INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Aid Workers

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports he has received on effects of the recent deaths of two aid workers in Afghanistan on the work carried out by voluntary organisations operating in that country.

Andrew Mitchell: The work of voluntary organisations in Afghanistan is vital and we are deeply saddened at the recent deaths of two aid workers.
	These losses are not expected to have a major impact on the work of non-government organisations (NGOs) in Afghanistan. Overall, the Afghanistan NGO Safety Office (ANSO) reports that NGO security incidents are declining. There has been a 17% reduction in attacks on NGOs by armed opposition groups this quarter compared to the same quarter last year, while criminal incidents have fallen by 43% over the same period. However, the accessibility of some districts for national and international staff has declined.
	All NGOs working in Afghanistan liaise with the ANSO. Staff at the British embassy in Kabul are in regular contact with the ANSO and share relevant security information with them. The UK Government supports the work of ANSO through its contributions to the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission (ECHO).

Departmental Energy

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost was of  (a) electricity and  (b) gas supplied to his Department's offices at 1 Palace Street in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Alan Duncan: The cost of electricity and gas supplied to the Department for International Development's (DFID's) headquarters in London in each of the last 12 months is as follows. These figures include sections of the building that are let to Visit Britain.
	
		
			  Month  Electricity (£)  Gas (£) 
			  2009   
			 November 25,007 4,235 
			 December 25,015 7,255 
			
			  2010   
			 January 26,006 6,800 
			 February 25,809 7,441 
			 March 28,634 6,347 
			 April 25,256 3,008 
			 May 25,207 3,425 
			 June 26,491 2,607 
			 July 27,242 1,534 
			 August 25,860 1,738 
			 September 26,097 1,743 
			 October 27,302 3,780

Departmental Manpower

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how many jobs advertised by his Department have specified training in an agricultural discipline in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many staff with training in an agricultural discipline his Department has employed in each of the last 10 years.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) employs staff from a range of professional backgrounds, many of whom are likely to have agricultural related training. To determine the extent of agricultural related training among all the staff employed and the number of jobs requiring agricultural related training, in the last 10 years, would incur disproportionate cost.
	However, DFID has two senior civil service positions and a group of professional livelihoods advisers who are required to have agricultural or rural development related training.

Developing Countries: Energy

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with industry specialists on private sector solutions to energy infrastructure issues in developing countries.

Andrew Mitchell: I meet regularly with a range of organisations to discuss private sector issues.
	For more information relating to my meetings with outside interest groups please see the following:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Our-organisation1/Ministers/

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Stephen O'Brien: The Government are committed to a comprehensive approach to eliminating paediatric AIDS, and in particular by focusing on where we have a comparative advantage: primary prevention of HIV among women of child-bearing age, and prevention of unintended pregnancies among women living with HIV through our investments in family planning.
	The Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health Business Plan, as the coalition Government's key mechanism to prioritise the health of women and babies, will support service delivery across the continuum of care needed to improve the health of women and girls, including the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. The Department for International Development (DFID) will continue to support efforts to increase access to affordable medicines, including anti-retroviral drugs and diagnostics, with a focus on pregnant women and newborns.

Government Building Stability Overseas Strategy Board

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who represents his Department on the cross-Government Building Stability Overseas strategy board.

Andrew Mitchell: The strategic defence and security review (SDSR) mandates the Foreign Secretary and I as joint lead Ministers responsible for coordinating work on building stability overseas. The designated lead official from the Department for International Development (DFID) is the Director-General Country Programmes.

Kenya: Agriculture

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has to provide agricultural development assistance to Kenya.

Andrew Mitchell: As part of a joint assistance strategy to Kenya, the Department for International Development (DFID), along with 16 other donors, has agreed to a division of labour to improve aid effectiveness. As a result, DFID is not planning to provide agricultural development assistance directly. DFID is, however, engaged in many related areas, such as food security, livestock insurance and pastoralist development. An example is the Hunger Safety Net Programme (£84 million 2007-2017), piloting innovative and secure ways of delivering cash to support 300,000 poor people by 2012. The small amounts of cash will allow people to buy food and diversify their livelihoods. Other support is planned for index-based livestock insurance, a drought management fund, 50,000 micro enterprises, and local community adaptation programmes.

Kenya: Agriculture

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has to assist Kenya in meeting its commitments under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) has contributed £10 million to the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), aiming to strengthen pan-African and regional institutions to support long-term investment plans and increase the proportion of national budgets for agriculture. Through CAADP, African governments are committed to raising agricultural productivity by at least 6% per year. Kenya has recently signed a CAADP agreement. DFID is not involved in direct assistance to Kenya on CAADP.

Kenya: Climate Change

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the effects of climate change on agriculture and food security in Kenya.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) has conducted a study on the economic impacts of climate change in Kenya, looking at a range of important sectors for the Kenyan economy, including agriculture and water. In some areas agricultural production is likely to improve through better rainfall and potential for irrigation. However, the overall impacts are likely to be negative, through increased occurrence of drought, flooding and changing patterns of land use.

Kenya: Climate Change

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to assist farmers in Kenya to adapt to climate change.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) has contributed £37.5 million to the African Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), which awards grants or loans for private sector projects in agri-business and financial sectors in rural Africa. A specific part of this fund, the Renewable Energy and Climate Technology Fund (REACT), aims specifically at supporting businesses that promote emissions mitigation and climate adaptation in East Africa. Further, DFID's Research and Evidence Division funds a number of research programmes supporting climate adaptation in Kenya, including pest management, and creating demand for new crop varieties and improved fertiliser blends. As part of the current review of all UK bilateral aid programmes, we are considering further what assistance we may be able to give Kenyan farmers to adapt to climate change in future.

Kenya: Food

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the food security situation in Kenya.

Andrew Mitchell: The food security situation in Kenya has improved since last year's drought, following favourable rains in late 2009 and 2010. The Kenya Food Security Steering Group (KFSSG) reports that 1.2 million rural poor in the arid and semi-arid lands require assistance (down from 3.8 million in 2009). There is a risk that food security next year will deteriorate in eastern and south-eastern parts of the country due to uneven rains in March to June 2010 and predicted below-average rains in 2011 due to the impact of La Nina. Short-term food security has also improved among urban households, due in part to downward pressure on food prices, but the KFSSG still estimates that 3.5 million people in urban centres are food insecure.

Sri Lanka: Tourism

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the provision of aid for the development of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development's (DFID's) support to Sri Lanka now consists of emergency humanitarian assistance only, which does not extend to the tourism sector. DFID's direct aid programme closed in 2006 when Sri Lanka graduated to middle income status.
	In 2008, responding to needs arising from the conflict, DFID committed £13.5 million of humanitarian funding to Sri Lanka. This support will end in March 2011. Further support will be provided over the next three years for landmine clearance, helping those still displaced to return home.

Western Sahara: Food

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of  (a) the food security situation in Western Sahara and  (b) the implication for food security in that country of the arrival of recent settlers;
	(2)  how much his Department spent on agricultural development in Western Sahara in each of the last five years; and what proportion of that expenditure was in respect of the  (a) Saharawi population and  (b) Moroccan settlers;
	(3)  how much his Department spent on emergency food aid in Western Sahara in each of the last five years; and what proportion of that expenditure was in respect of the  (a) Saharawi population and  (b) Moroccan settlers.  [Official Report, 21 December 2010, Vol. 520, c. 7-8MC.]

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not have a bilateral aid programme in Western Sahara and has not provided direct emergency funds to the country in the last five years. We support Western Sahara through our share of the budget of the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO). ECHO has provided €133 million in humanitarian aid to Western Sahara since it was established. DFID monitors all humanitarian situations on an ongoing basis.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Rape: Offences Against the Administration of Justice

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General how many women have been prosecuted for perverting the course of justice following a false retraction of an allegation of rape in each year since 2005.

Dominic Grieve: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) captures a wide range of information on the volume of specific offences that are charged and reach a first hearing in magistrates courts in its Compass Management Information System. However, these records do not include information about the gender of defendants to whom these offences relate or the particular circumstances of the charge.
	The information requested is held on individual case files, but it could be retrieved only by locating and examining every relevant file in each CPS office in England and Wales and would incur a disproportionate cost.

PRIME MINISTER

Andrew Cook

John Mann: To ask the Prime Minister when he last  (a) met,  (b) spoke to and  (c) corresponded with Andrew Cook.

David Cameron: Like other major donors to the Conservative party I have met Mr Cook from time to time, including since becoming Prime Minister. There is no record of him coming to Downing street.

Athletics

John Mann: To ask the Prime Minister what meetings he has had on the UK Athletics bid to host the 2017 world athletics championship in the last two months.

David Cameron: The Minister for Sport holds regular meetings with UK Athletics. Officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are also in regular discussions with interested parties about a potential World Athletics Championships bid.

FIFA

John Mann: To ask the Prime Minister which members of the FIFA Executive Committee he has met in the course of his official duties since his appointment; and what undertaking each gave him on support for the Football Association's bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

David Cameron: I met Sepp Blatter in Downing street on 13 October 2010. I have spoken to a wide range of members of the FIFA Executive Committee. Notably I travelled to Zurich on Tuesday 30 November and again on Wednesday 1 December where I had meetings with most members of the Executive Committee to press support for the England bid.

Transfer of Questions

Ian Austin: To ask the Prime Minister for what reason question 28072, on discussions between the Prime Minister and the Mayor of London, was transferred for answer by the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

David Cameron: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has responsibility for this matter.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Departmental Conferences

Robert Halfon: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she has taken since her appointment to reduce expenditure on conferences from budgets within her responsibility.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office (GEO) has taken a number of steps to ensure expenditure on conferences is kept to a minimum, including:
	Eliminating catering costs (when possible)
	Using in-house facilities or partner organisations to host events (when appropriate)
	Managing the delivery of events in-house, rather than using an external agency.

Departmental Equality

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps the Government plans to take to ensure that  (a) statutory duties in respect to race equality are observed and  (b) equality impact assessments are prepared by each (i) Government department, (ii) local authority and (iii) other public body considering budgetary reductions.

Lynne Featherstone: In carrying out their functions all listed public bodies and those discharging public functions must have due regard to the matters specified in section 71 of the Race Relations Act 1976.
	Public bodies are legally required to assess the effect, or likely effect, of their policies on people of different races. This can be done in several ways of which formal equality impact assessments, although a good approach, are only one method.
	Throughout the spending review process the Government Equalities Office (GEO) has been in contact with spending teams and senior policy owners to assist them to comply with the duties. Departments have various procedures in place to ensure equality is appropriately assessed and the GEO will continue to work closely with them to make sure equality is at the forefront of action to reduce the deficit fairly.
	The Equality and Human Rights Commission is responsible for enforcing equality legislation including the equality duties on all bodies that are subject to them.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Energy Supply

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of  (a) electricity and  (b) gas supplied to his Department's offices at 11 Millbank in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Hugo Swire: Monthly figures are unavailable as the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is billed on a quarterly basis for its premises at 11 Millbank. The quarterly figures are as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			  Quarter period 1 October 2009 to 31 December 2009  
			 Gas 2,108.05 
			 Electricity 8,012.04 
			   
			  Quarter period 1 January 2010 to 31 March 2010  
			 Gas 3,116.10 
			 Electricity 5,848.69 
		
	
	My Department is awaiting bills covering 1 April 2010 onwards.

WALES

Departmental Conferences

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what her Department's annual budget for conferences was at  (a) 7 May 2010 and  (b) 7 December 2010.

David Jones: I refer the hon. Member to my reply given to him on 6 December 2010,  Official Report, column 1W.

SCOTLAND

Housing Associations: Lanarkshire

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the current member of vacant housing association tenanted homes with  (a) one bedroom and  (b) two bedrooms in (i) South Lanarkshire and (ii) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency.

David Mundell: This information is not held by the Scotland Office.

Multi-occupancy Lets: Lanarkshire

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his most recent estimate is of the number of multi-occupancy lets by tenure in  (a) South Lanarkshire and  (b) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency.

David Mundell: This information is not held by the Scotland Office.

Private Rented Housing: Lanarkshire

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of vacant private rented homes with  (a) one bedroom and  (b) two bedrooms in (i) South Lanarkshire and (ii) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency where the rental is in the bottom 30 per cent. of local market values.

David Mundell: This information is not held by the Scotland Office.

Scottish Parliament: Elections

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department has undertaken user-testing of the ballot papers for the elections to the Scottish Parliament in 2011.

David Mundell: The ballot papers for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election take account of the recommendations made by Ron Gould in his report on the May 2007 elections and the views expressed by voters who took part in the research undertaken by Quadrant Consultants on behalf of the Scotland Office during May and June 2008. They have been designed in accordance with the Electoral Commission's guidance on ballot paper design contained in 'Making your mark: Good practice for designing voter materials: guidance for government policy-makers'.

Social Rented Housing: Lanarkshire

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of vacant local authority tenanted homes with  (a) one bedroom and  (b) two bedrooms in (i) South Lanarkshire and (ii) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency.

David Mundell: This information is not held by the Scotland Office.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Electoral Register

David Crausby: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he plans to take to increase the number of people who complete and return electoral registration forms.

Mark Harper: Responsibility for registering electors lies with individual electoral registration officers (EROs) based within local authorities. Each ERO is under a duty to take all steps that are necessary to maintain their registers.
	The Electoral Commission provides guidance to EROs in undertaking electoral registration, and sets and monitors performance standards for EROs. As part of this monitoring role, the Electoral Commission recently published its second assessment of 'The Performance Standards for Electoral Registration Officers in Great Britain (March 2010)'.
	On 15 September the Government announced their intention to speed up the implementation of individual electoral registration (IER) so that it comes into force in 2014. IER will involve the collection of identifying information from individual electors.
	To complement the move to IER the Government intend to test data matching schemes during 2011 with the aim of identifying eligible electors who are not on the electoral register. Participating EROs will be able to compare the electoral register against other public databases and find people missing from the register. If these test schemes are successful the Government will consider rolling out data matching nationally as a means of encouraging electoral registration.

Electoral Register: North West

David Crausby: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which local authorities in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) Greater Manchester did not publish a new electoral roll on 1 December 2010.

Mark Harper: This information is not collected centrally.
	Section 13 (1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 provides that a revised register of electors must be published by 1 December each year at the conclusion of the annual canvass. If, however, there has been an election during the canvass period, electoral registration officers are permitted to delay publication of the revised register until 1 February.

Members

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what activities will constitute serious wrongdoing under his legislative proposals to provide for the recall of hon. Members;
	(2)  what progress he has made on bringing forward legislative proposals to provide for the recall of hon. Members.

Mark Harper: The Government are committed to bringing forward legislation to introduce a power to recall Members of Parliament. We are currently considering what would be the fairest, most appropriate and robust procedure.

Members: Correspondence

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to reply to the letter of 15 November 2010 from the right hon. Member for Cynon Valley on tuition fees.

Nicholas Clegg: A reply was sent on 13 December 2010.

DEFENCE

Cyber-attacks

James Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks on the defence estate; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: As we set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, we attach a high priority to the cyber defence of our systems. This Government placed a renewed focus on this threat. We have recognised attacks through cyber space as a Tier 1 risk to our national security. The Government have put in place an additional £650 million transformative national programme to enhance our protection in cyber space.
	There are technical and procedural measures in place to protect the Ministry of Defence systems from cyber attack, and to ensure we can mitigate the impact of those attacks.
	You will understand if I do not comment further on the detail of those measures-I do not wish to provide information which could be exploited by a potential attacker.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what arrangements his Department has made to ensure that Christmas cards and gifts reach British troops serving in Afghanistan in time for Christmas;
	(2)  what proportion of Christmas cards and gifts sent to British troops in Afghanistan he expects to reach the troops in time for Christmas.

Andrew Robathan: The last date that families could post mail to be delivered to Afghanistan by Christmas was 3 December 2010; this date was widely publicised by the Royal Mail and British Forces Post Office. Every effort is being made to ensure that mail is delivered promptly to members of the armed forces serving in Afghanistan. To ensure that the mail is delivered on time, additional staff have been employed at the BFPO sorting depot and if required, additional flights will also be chartered to supplement the regular air bridge to Afghanistan. Once in theatre, the mail is delivered to personnel through local arrangements. It may, however, be necessary to hold the mail for those who are deployed in remote Forward Operating Bases until they return to a larger base with the necessary mail facilities.

Armed Forces: Blood

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has considered the merits of introducing in the armed forces pathogen reduction technology as an option for combating known and unknown pathogens.

Andrew Robathan: The surgeon general has received advice that current pathogen inactivation (PI) technology is not suitable for use in deployed UK operational facilities. He will continue to monitor developments in this area.
	The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO), a UK independent non-departmental public body run by the Department of Health, performed a risk assessment of strategies for the reduction of risk of bacterial contamination of platelets in 2009. The committee concluded at its meeting on 27 January 2010 that PI of platelets should not be implemented at this particular time, due to uncertainties around patient safety, increased donor exposure and efficacy of PI platelets. The situation will continue to be monitored by the secretariat.
	The majority of the blood held and used in-theatre by the Defence Medical Services and used by the armed forces in the UK is supplied by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) Service.

Armed Forces: Christmas

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements his Department has made for the annual Armed Forces Christmas Dinner in 2010.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 9 December 2010
	There is no such event as an armed forces Christmas dinner.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the data used to determine his Department's funding allocation for healthcare to service personnel in each of the next four years.

Andrew Robathan: Funding for the treatment of ill and injured personnel has been, and will continue to be, made available to match clinical requirements. Ministry of Defence-funded healthcare extends across a wide international network, including local unit-based primary care provision in the UK and overseas; regional rehabilitation and mental health units; and staff and facilities on deployed operations. Many of the costs are disaggregated and embedded in the budgets of individual military units and overall operational budgets. Owing to the number of different budgets to which costs would be attributable, any detailed analysis of healthcare funding data would incur disproportionate costs.

Armed Forces: Mental Health

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding his Department plans to allocate to research on mental health in respect of  (a) serving personnel and  (b) veterans in each of the next four years.

Andrew Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 December 2010,  Official Report, column 222W, to the hon. Member for East Renfrewshire (Mr Murphy).

Defence: Scotland

Jim McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the likely effects of changes in his Department's spending on businesses in the private sector in Scotland.

Liam Fox: The Strategic Defence and Security Review changes were needed to allow our armed forces to meet the challenges of the future. The industrial implications of these changes were given careful consideration. The Ministry of Defence is now in commercial negotiations with our main suppliers as part of implementing the SDSR. It is too soon to judge the effect of these changes on industry in Scotland or elsewhere in the UK.

Departmental Assets

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent estimate is of the monetary value of those of his Department's assets it is legally able to sell.

Andrew Robathan: As at 31 March 2010, the Department's annual accounts gave the value of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) owned estate as some £15 billion. However these values represent replacement and not open market value.
	As announced in October, the sale of assets such as the Defence Support Group, the Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre and the Defence stake in the telecommunications spectrum should generate in excess of £500 million over the spending review period.
	The likely monetary value of those defence equipment assets that will become surplus following the Strategic Defence and Security Review, such as HMS Ark Royal and the Harrier fleet, is still being assessed.

Departmental Conferences

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken since his appointment to reduce expenditure on conferences from budgets within his responsibility.

Peter Luff: Measures that will drive down expenditure on attending or arranging conferences include a reduction in our reliance on travel by maximising the opportunities presented by modern technology and techniques, such as video or audio conferencing; the removal of first class air travel and, in all but exceptional circumstances, first class rail and business class air travel; an instruction to keep the number attending meetings and events from a single business area to the absolute minimum; and restrictions on payments for overtime and travelling time.

Departmental Press: Subscriptions

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much  (a) his Department and  (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible spent on press cuttings services in each of the last 12 months.

Peter Luff: The provision of a press cuttings service is regularly reviewed to ensure the best value for money, both in terms of the number of recipients and the search terms used. These are kept to a minimum consistent with maintaining the appropriate level of awareness.
	The cost of press cuttings services to central London Ministry of Defence (MOD) divisions and to the three out of four MOD trading funds that pay separately for press cuttings services, is shown in the following table. Figures for October 2010 have yet to be confirmed; the information in the following table shows the most recent 12 months for which all information is available.
	
		
			  Cost ( £ ) 
			   MOD  c ost  Defence Science and Technology Laboratory  United Kingdom Hydrographic Office  Meteorological Office 
			  2009 
			 October 11,809.04 180.80 0.00 (1)- 
			 November 13,022.40 484.77 0.00 - 
			 December 11,151.60 535.62 0.00 - 
			  
			  2010 
			 January 13,092.54 480.87 1,318.00 - 
			 February 10,880.13 230.52 0.00 - 
			 March 11,904.50 249.73 1,197.00 - 
			 April 9,833.00 155.94 1,413.00 - 
			 May 10,351.09 324.41 1,413.00 - 
			 June 13,309.41 202.27 1,197.00 - 
			 July 11,318.88 57.63 0.00 - 
			 August 11,671.26 413.58 1,591.00 - 
			 September 12,057.51 267.84 0.00 - 
			 (1) Press cuttings supplied under a fixed price contract. No additional monthly charges are paid. Annual total: £4,866.67  Note: The figures given above exclude VAT and Newspaper Licensing Authority fees. 
		
	
	The fourth MOD trading fund the Defence Support Group spent no money on press cutting services during the past 12 months.
	The expenditure incurred by the two MOD non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) that use press cutting services is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			   RAF Museum  Army Museum 
			  2009   
			 October 77.00 516.30 
			 November 92.60 512.23 
			 December 122.60 472.28 
			
			  2010   
			 January 54.20 448.67 
			 February 77.00 579.56 
			 March 61.40 686.57 
			 April 87.80 489.14 
			 May 66.20 497.48 
			 June 100.00 406.89 
			 July 66.20 399.76 
			 August 120.20 617.99 
			 September 75.80 542.18

France: Military Alliances

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on collaboration between the UK and France on defence; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Fox: Following the UK/France summit on 2 November 2010, we are now pursuing closer co-operation with France in the areas detailed in the Summit Declaration on Defence and Security. We made a long-term commitment at the summit to the achievement of the envisaged level of co-operation, and the delivery of joint initiatives over the coming years. Discussions between officials and military staffs are ongoing, building on the existing close links between the UK and French Defence communities. The Senior Level Group, established under the terms of the Defence and Security Co-operation treaty, will deliver a progress report on co-operation to the next bilateral summit.

HMS Ark Royal

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to retain HMS Ark Royal as  (a) a museum and  (b) a training facility.

Peter Luff: HMS Ark Royal is due to formally leave service with the Royal Navy in early 2011. It is too early to determine the future plans for HMS Ark Royal.
	Any decision will be in line with the Ministry of Defence's policy for handling surplus assets.

Military Bases: Aviation

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what area in hectares and what proportion of his Department's estate was constituted by airfields  (a) in 2008 and  (b) on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 8 December 2010
	Information on the proportion of the defence estate that constitutes airfields is not held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, the proportion of the Department's estate owned by the RAF in 2008-09 is published in the United Kingdom Defence Statistics 2009, which can be found on the Defence Analytical Services Agency website:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/modintranet/UKDS/UKDS2009/c6/table601.html
	A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Navy

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the RAF's responsibilities are under the Quick Reaction Alert North commitment; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what responsibility the RAF has in ensuring that the air sovereignty of other NATO member states is maintained; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what his policy is on the role of the RAF in NATO air policing of UK airspace; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: Under NATO's air defence and air policing arrangement, the UK shares responsibility for NATO Air Policing Area One. This area incorporates UK, Norwegian, Icelandic Danish and international airspace. The Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) force is responsible for covering this area and is launched when an aircraft entering this region cannot be identified by any other means or if NATO and UK military authorities consider it necessary to intercept and shadow an aircraft of specific interest.
	The QRA force comprises a variety of elements maintained at readiness in order to allow NATO commanders to fulfil their delegated mission of 'defending the integrity of alliance airspace'. The force comprises fighter aircraft at RAF Coningsby (South) and RAF Leuchars (North), aerospace battle managers of the Air Surveillance and Control Systems Force and the NATO combined air operations centres. Acting together, they respond appropriately to protect both NATO and UK airspace.
	Following the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the UK will continue to maintain the necessary force-level contributions to support NATO's agreed air defence and air policing mission NATO Air Policing Area One which includes UK airspace.

Nuclear Submarines: Decommissioning

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to publish the proposed criteria for suitable storage sites for radioactive waste from decommissioned nuclear submarines.

Peter Luff: The document 'Proposed Site Criteria and Screening Paper' was published on the Submarine Dismantling Project web site on 6 December 2010. It can be obtained from the following website:
	http://www.submarinedismantling.co.uk/assets/downloads/sdp/sdp_proposed_site_criteria_screening_paper.pdf
	Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
	The criteria proposed in the document have been used to identify the potential candidate sites for the initial stages of submarine dismantling. They will also inform the process of identifying potential candidate sites for the interim storage of intermediate level radioactive waste. In addition, this process will be informed by the potential development of a national waste consolidation strategy by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Nuclear Weapons

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion of 17 June 2010,  Official Report, column 503W, on nuclear weapons, which US establishments were visited by personnel from the Atomic Weapons Establishment in each of the last three years; and how many staff visited each such establishment.

Peter Luff: I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

USA: Cluster Munitions

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government has reached any understanding with the US administration that the Secretary of State may give authorisation for US cluster munitions to be brought into or carried through the UK or its overseas territories; whether any such arrangement was discussed with US officials prior to Royal Assent to the Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Act 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Fox: Article 8 of the Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Act (2010) sets out that the Secretary of State is able to grant authorisation for visiting forces of states not party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions to possess cluster munitions on or transfer them through UK territory.
	The US were made aware of this provision within the Bill, not least as it was required to enable the removal of their cluster munitions stockpiles. This removal has now been completed and there are no foreign stockpiles of cluster munitions on UK territory.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department is considering new policies to tackle the low-pay, no-pay cycle.

Chris Grayling: The spending review announced the biggest changes to our welfare system for a generation. It means we will be able to take action to get spending under control, cut the deficit, reform the system to make work pay and end the cycles of benefit dependency that exist in too many communities around the UK.
	The universal credit will simplify the benefits system by moving from the current multitude of benefits to one streamlined payment. Benefit will be withdrawn at one unified rate, making it easy for people to see that it is always worth going to work, and exactly how much of their income they will keep. This will reduce risks for people by smoothing transitions into and out of work which is particularly important for people in short-term or low-paid work. Details of the credit, which we hope to introduce from 2013, will be set out in a White Paper to be published shortly.
	We are also introducing the new Work Programme a multi-billion pound investment to support people into work. We will replace the ineffective and wasteful employment programmes of the past with a unified structure which treats people as individuals and is delivered by private and voluntary sector organisations, paid for by long-term results. Providers will only be paid for securing sustainable work, rather than a short-term or temporary job entry that might lead to returning to and cycling on and off benefit.

Departmental Overtime

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on overtime for staff working within his private office in each of the last five years.

Chris Grayling: The following table gives details of the overtime paid to staff working within the Secretary of State's private office during the requested periods. Since May 2010 there have been a number of initiatives implemented to reduce this spend; overtime has been limited to a maximum of 10 hours per week per person, early morning/late night rotas have been introduced and staff have been encouraged not to work past 7 pm at night.
	
		
			   Amount paid (£) 
			 2005-06 56,300.36 
			 2006-07 47,872.49 
			 2007-08 42,355.07 
			 2008-09 38,088.96 
			 2009-10 38,222.73

Departmental Postal Services

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to identify those of its services that could be provided through the Post Office network.

Chris Grayling: The Government policy statement "Securing the Post Office Network in the Digital Age" published on 9 November 2010 sets out the services which this Department is considering piloting with the Post Office.
	The Department has taken a positive and constructive approach, meeting regularly with the Post Office to consider new opportunities where the Post Office will be able to compete for future Government business.
	These include a pilot to explore whether the Post Offices could verify supporting documents for customers of the Pension Service and whether it can play a role in supporting Jobcentre Plus in the national insurance number application process.

Housing Benefit

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of individuals who receive housing benefit, council tax benefit and child tax credit such that their tax credits are tapered to nothings as their income rises before they lose all entitlement to  (a) housing benefit and  (b) council tax benefit.

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available.
	From February 2007, DWP has been collecting more detailed housing benefit and council tax benefit data electronically from local authorities. Over time this will improve the accuracy, timeliness and level of detail available in the published statistics, as the information supplied is quality assured.
	At present, the management information needed to estimate overlaps between housing benefits and tax credits has not been sufficiently quality assured. Moreover, the housing benefit data contains information on tax credits only for those who are not in receipt of a passporting benefit.

National Insurance Benefits

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has made an assessment of the merits of mechanisms to protect the National Insurance contributions of stay-at-home parents who are no longer in receipt of child benefit under his Department's proposals on future child benefit arrangements.

Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 17 November 2010,  Official Report, column 827W, to the hon. Member for Bolton West (Julie Hilling).

Remploy

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he  (a) last met and  (b) next plans to meet representatives from Remploy to discuss the future of the organisation.

Maria Miller: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions routinely meets with the chair and chief executive of Remploy to discuss the company's current and future plans for supporting disabled people into work. The last meeting  (a) was on 9 December and  (b) there are no further meetings scheduled in the diary.

Remploy

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he  (a) last met and  (b) next plans to meet trade union representatives to discuss the future of Remploy.

Maria Miller: As Minister with responsibility for Remploy, I met with trade union representatives on 9 September to discuss their proposals for the company.
	There are no further meetings scheduled at this time but I am always willing to work with and listen to the views of the trade unions and all those who have a close interest in Remploy.
	On 2 December I announced an independent review and call for evidence of the support the Government provide to disabled people who want to work including the work of Remploy. This provides an opportunity for trade unions, people and organisations to submit evidence that will inform the development of our future strategy.

Remploy

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he  (a) last met and  (b) next plans to meet Remploy employees to discuss the future of the organisation.

Maria Miller: As Minister for Disabled People, I have responsibility for Remploy.
	I visited and met employees at the Acton and Coventry factories and the Coventry Employment Services branch on 25 August. I currently have no further visits arranged in my diary but I am always willing to work with and listen to the views of Remploy employees and all those who have a close interest in Remploy.
	On 2 December I announced an independent review and call for evidence of the support the Government provide to disabled people who want to work including the work of Remploy. This provides an opportunity for people and organisations to submit evidence that will inform the development of our future strategy.

Remploy

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he  (a) last visited and  (b) next plans to visit a factory operated by Remploy.

Maria Miller: As Minister for Disabled People, I have responsibility for Remploy. I  (a) visited the Acton and Coventry factories on 25 August and  (b) there are currently no other visits arranged in my diary.

Social Fund

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the overall average default rate for loans made through the Social Fund was in the period from 2004 to 2009.

Steve Webb: The available information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Amounts written off in Great Britain 
			  £ 000 
			   Budgeting loans  Crisis loans  Total 
			 2004-05 1,399 705 2,104 
			 2005-06 2,114 910 3,024 
			 2006-07 1,178 473 1,651 
			 2007-08 823 467 1,290 
			 2008-09 1,225 559 1,784 
			 2009-10 1,105 578 1,683 
			  Notes: 1. Figures include debt due to overpayments that has been written off. (Not all debt due to overpayments is written off.) 2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £1,000.  Source:  Details that support the Social Fund White Paper Accounts for 2004-05 to 2009-10.

Social Fund

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) grants and  (b) loans from the Social Fund were made in the form of (i) community care grants, (ii) budgeting loans, (iii) crisis loans, (iv) sure start maternity grants, (v) funeral payments, (vi) cold weather payments, (vii) winter fuel payments and (viii) grants or loans in each other Social Fund category in the period from 2004 to 2009.

Steve Webb: The available information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Social Fund awards for Great Britain 
			  Number (Thousand) 
			   Financial year 
			  Award type  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Community care grants 261 275 271 247 252 263 
			 Budgeting loans 1,200 1,217 1,298 1,168 1,098 1,204 
			 Crisis loans 1,000 1,016 1,072 1,431 1,965 2,697 
			 Sure Start maternity grants 236 238 237 243 263 274 
			 Funeral payments 44 42 41 40 41 39 
			 Cold weather payments 213 988 402 472 8,416 11,870 
			 Winter fuel payments 11,430 11,555 11,750 12,123 12,421 12,681 
			  Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using official/national statistics but in this case we only have management information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as official/national statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, figures given do not include awards made clerically which had not been entered on to the social fund computer system by the end of the relevant financial year (for the first five categories). 2. Figures for community care grants, budgeting loans and crisis loans are for initial awards only and do not include awards made after review. 3. Figures for Sure Start maternity grants and funeral payments include awards made after re-consideration or appeal. 4. Figures for winter fuel payments include payments made to recipients within Great Britain and also recipients from within the European economic area who qualified for payments while resident in Great Britain. 5. Figures for cold weather payments and winter fuel payments are for payments made in respect of the relevant winter, but which may have been made in the following financial year. 6. Figures for winter fuel payments for 2005-06 have been revised and therefore do not match exactly those currently in the House of Commons Library. Information in the Library will be updated as soon as possible. 7. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 1,000.  Sources: Winter Fuel Payments: Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate 100% data. Other award types: annual reports by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Social Fund (apart from Cold Weather Payments for 2009-10 where the figure has been updated).

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the letter from Dr James Bolton to the Jobcentre Plus Customer Representative Group Forum dated 24 June 2010, if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of  (a) evidence and  (b) ongoing external evaluation his Department has collected on the effectiveness of work-focused health-related assessments.

Chris Grayling: Following careful consideration, the work focused health related assessment (WFHRA) element of the work capability assessment was suspended from 19 July 2010 for a period of two years. The WFHRA's suspension will provide an opportunity for the Department to reconsider the WFHRA's purpose and delivery. It also improves the capacity to focus on and cope with the demands of the reassessment of existing incapacity benefit customers.
	Research has been carried out by the Institute for Employment Studies and has provided evidence on the WFHRA's effectiveness.
	1. DWP Research Report 631 "Employment and Support Allowance: Early implementation experiences of customers and staff"; publication date March 2010.
	2. DWP Research Report 707 "Employment and Support Allowance: Findings from a face-to-face survey of customers"; publication date November 2010.
	An additional report, "Employment and Support Allowance-Customer and Staff experiences of the face-to-face Work Capability Assessment and Work-Focused Health-Related Assessment" will be published in the week commencing 20 December.
	These reports will be made available in the Library.

State Retirement Pensions

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the change to the average net income of retired households in each income decile attributable to changes to  (a) the basic state pension and  (b) guarantee credit in the June 2010 Budget in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13, (iv) 2013-14 and (v) 2014-15;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the change to the average net income of retired households in each income decile attributable to decisions on  (a) pension credit and  (b) savings credit following the comprehensive spending review in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13, (iv) 2013-14 and (v) 2014-15.

Steve Webb: The June 2010 Budget announced that the basic state pension would be uprated by a triple guarantee of prices, earnings or 2.5% whichever is highest. In general CPI will be used as the measure of prices in the triple guarantee. However in April 2011 the basic state pension will be increased by RPI.
	Prior to the change, the basic state pension was expected to increase by RPI in April 2011, so the reform has no impact in 2011-12.
	In April 2012 under current Office of Budget Responsibility economic assumptions the basic state pension will be increased by a larger amount due to the reform. The following table shows the proportion of all gainers that are in each income decile of the overall population income distribution and the average amount that they gain.
	
		
			  Effect of the basic state pension triple guarantee in 2012-13 :  Proportion of those gaining in each decile of the population income distribution and the average increase in their net income 
			   Decile 
			   Bottom  Second  Third  Fourth  Fifth  Sixth  Seventh  Eighth  Ninth  Top 
			 Percentage of gainers 4 8 13 14 13 12 12 9 8 7 
			 Average amount gained (£) 0.70 0.90 0.80 0.80 0.90 0.90 0.80 0.90 0.90 0.80 
		
	
	Equivalent figures are not available for 2013-14 and 2014-15.
	Changes to the uprating of pension credit were announced in the June Budget and in the comprehensive spending review. The June 2010 Budget announced that the standard minimum guarantee in pension credit will increase by the cash increase in a full basic state pension in April 2011. The comprehensive spending review announced that the savings credit maximum will be frozen in cash terms from April 2011 to April 2014.
	The following tables show the proportion of all gainers that are in each income decile of the overall population income distribution and the average amount that they gain in 2011-12 and in 2012-13. Due to the small number of cases affected in the higher income deciles the top three deciles have been merged.
	
		
			  Effect of the pension credit uprating changes in 2011-12 :  Proportion of those gaining in each decile of the population income distribution and the average increase in their net income 
			   Decile 
			   Bottom  Second  Third  Fourth  Fifth  Sixth  Seventh  Eighth to tenth 
			 Percentage of gainers 7 14 29 20 10 8 9 4 
			 Average amount gained (£) 3.00 3.10 2.20 2.30 2.40 2.10 2.30 2.20 
		
	
	
		
			  Effect of the pension credit uprating changes in 2012-13 :  Proportion of those gaining in each decile of the population income distribution and the average increase in their net income 
			   Decile 
			   Bottom  Second  Third  Fourth  Fifth  Sixth  Seventh  Eighth to tenth 
			 Percentage of gainers 7 13 29 20 10 8 9 4 
			 Average amount gained (£) 2.00 2.60 1.80 1.80 1.80 1.80 1.90 1.70 
			  Notes: 1. Estimates are derived from the Department's policy simulation model and so are subject to modelling and sampling error. 2. Estimates use latest Office of Budget Responsibility economic assumptions and assume that: (a) Basic state pension would have been uprated by RPI in April 2011 and earnings in April 2012. (b) The standard minimum guarantee and the savings credit threshold in pension credit would have been uprated by earnings in April 2011 and April 2012. 3. Percentages are rounded to the nearest percentage point so may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Changes in net income are rounded to the nearest 10p and are in cash terms. 4. Deciles are based on the distribution of net household income across the GB population after deducting housing costs. They use OECD equivalistion factors 
		
	
	Equivalent figures are not available for 2013-14 and 2014-15.
	Take up of the guarantee credit pension credit was between 71% and 81% of those estimated to be entitled in 2008-09. The majority of pensioners in the lowest decile appear from the data collected in the Family Resources Survey to have an entitlement to pension credit but have not made a claim. So the proportion of gainers from the pension credit change who are in the lowest decile is relatively low.
	Pension credit recipients within the top four deciles generally either have severe disabilities, which entitle them to disability benefits and premiums which increases their income to reflect the additional costs of disability, or be living within a wider household, for example with their families, whose income raises the household equivalised income to the higher deciles. In these circumstances the pensioner's income is assessed independently of the wider household to establish entitlement to pension credit.

Unemployed People: Per Capita Costs

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average cost to the public purse through payment of benefits and lost revenue to the Exchequer of each person who is unemployed.

Chris Grayling: The information is not available in the form requested. Estimates of Exchequer costs in relation to all unemployed people would require information on the earnings and other circumstances of those people if they were not unemployed, which are unknown.
	The Department does make estimates of the typical Exchequer impact associated with individuals who move from jobseeker's allowance (JSA) into work. Our current estimate for the net Exchequer savings from someone who would have claimed JSA instead of being in employment for a full year is £7,800, taking into account changes in benefit and tax credit entitlements, and changes in tax and national insurance payments. This is based on specific assumptions(1), and in practice the net effect will vary widely depending on individual circumstances.
	The average length of JSA claim is less than a year (more than half of new JSA claimants leave benefit within three months and around three-quarters within six months) so the actual savings generated by an average jobseeker moving into employment will be less than this estimate. For this reason, the total Exchequer saving from all movements from JSA to employment could not be extrapolated from this estimate.
	(1) Calculations using the DWP Tax-Benefit model 2009-10:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/tbm/index.php?page=tbmt_arc
	The estimate assumes that the individual earns £12,200 pa (gross) in work, and is based on the estimated demographic profile of those leaving JSA.

Unemployment: Yorkshire and the Humber

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many able-bodied persons of working age have been unemployed for a period of  (a) six months,  (b) 12 months,  (c) two years,  (d) three years,  (e) four years,  (f) five years and  (g) more than five years in Yorkshire and the Humber; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the level of long-term unemployment.

Chris Grayling: The estimated number of unemployed people in Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region aged 16 to 64 years, by duration of unemployment, are given in the following table. The table includes figures for all ILO unemployed and for ILO unemployed excluding those who are both covered by the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 and have a physical health problem expected to last more than a year.
	
		
			   ILO unemployed 
			  Duration of unemployment  Excluding those covered by the DDA who have a physical health condition  All 
			 Less than 6 months 96,000 109,000 
			 6 months but less than 12 months 42,000 51,000 
			 1 year but less than 2 years 39,000 49,000 
			 2 years but less than 3 years 14,000 16,000 
			 3 years but less than 4 years 6,000 6,000 
			 4 years but less than 5 years 3,000 5,000 
			 5 years and over 7,000 9,000 
			 Total 207,000 245,000 
			  Notes: 1. Estimates have been rounded to the nearest 1,000. Some of the estimates are based on small samples; though large enough to be included in the table, they should be treated with caution. 2. A combination of physical and mental health conditions may contribute to an individual being covered by the DDA. The estimates in the table exclude only those covered by the DDA who have a physical health condition, regardless of any mental health condition. The latter include depression, bad nerves, anxiety, severe or specific learning difficulties, mental illness or suffering from phobia, panics or other nervous disorders.  Source: Labour Force Survey July-September 2010. 
		
	
	These figures are a snapshot of the latest position and hide the dynamism of a labour market in which most people who experience unemployment leave quickly. Currently over half of new claimants to jobseeker's allowance leave within three months, around three quarters leave within six months and around 90% leave within a year.
	However, to strengthen the support available for people to return to work, we are aiming to introduce the Work Programme from next summer. The Work Programme, will be a flexible, personalised programme built around the needs of individuals, providing the employment support customers need when they need it. It will contribute to the Government's key aims of fighting poverty, supporting the most vulnerable and helping people to break the cycle of benefit dependency.
	Ahead of the implementation of the Work Programme, the Government will ensure that support will be in place with a more personalised service for claimants of all working age benefits from April 2011. Jobcentre Plus will have more flexibility to judge which interventions, from a menu of options, will help individual claimants most cost-effectively and which will meet local labour market needs.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanism he plans to put in place to calculate universal credit payments for people who are self-employed.

Chris Grayling: We will provide for all those who are outside the pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) system, such as the self employed, to ensure that universal credit payments take into account all household earnings. We expect to develop a self reporting tool for those outside the PAYE system to provide us with their earnings information.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to announce his proposals for support for childcare costs following the introduction of universal credit.

Chris Grayling: The Government announced the approaches they are considering to support child care costs in the White Paper 'Universal Credit: Welfare that Works' (Cm 7957, November 2010). They will announce more detailed proposals over the coming months, following discussions with child care user groups and provider organisations.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to announce his proposals for the determination of eligibility for passported benefits following the introduction of universal credit.

Chris Grayling: Universal credit will replace a number of benefits and tax credits which are currently used as passports to other forms of support. The White Paper proposed that eligibility for these passported benefits should be determined in future on the basis of income or earnings thresholds. We are discussing the new approach with the other Government Departments and devolved Administrations who provide the benefits in question and will give more details in the coming months.

Universal Credit

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the proposed universal credit will account for  (a) individual and  (b) household housing costs.

Steve Webb: An appropriate amount of support will be added to the universal credit award to help meet the costs of rent and mortgage interest. For households with no other income, the amount provided, whether claiming as  (a) a single adult or  (b) two adults who live as a couple will be similar to the support currently provided through housing benefit or, in the case of mortgage interest, the appropriate income-related benefit.
	We will provide further information on our preferred approach over the coming months as our policy develops.

Work Programme: Big Society Bank

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will discuss with the Minister for the Cabinet Office the provision of financial support through the Big Society Bank to enable smaller third sector organisations to participate in the Work Programme.

Chris Grayling: We are encouraging smaller civil society organisations to utilise all sources of funding available to them, to provide them with additional financial support to aid their participation in the delivery of the Work Programme. We expect voluntary and community sector organisations and social enterprises to play a significant role in the supply chains of prime contractors. Discussions are already taking place between my officials and Cabinet Office on the development of the Big Society Bank. The aim of the Big Society Bank is to support the growth of the social investment market and make it easier for social enterprises and other enterprising civil society organisations, including those looking to participate in the Work Programme, to access capital. The Big Society Bank will, however, be an independent wholesale organisation that will be free to make its own investment decisions based on the quality of opportunities presented by the market.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Human Rights

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department provides to the Afghan government's Human Rights Support Unit; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provided financial support of £200,000 for the Afghan Government's Human Rights Support Unit (HRSU) through its strategic programme fund for human rights and democracy in 2009.
	During 2010 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has also provided £6,000 funding through its bilateral programme budget for one human rights officer from the HRSU to complete a course in international human rights law at Nottingham university.

Albania: Floods

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his Albanian counterpart the provision of assistance to those affected by floods in Shkodra, Northern Albania.

Andrew Mitchell: I have been asked to reply.
	British officials have been in contact with the Albanian authorities via their embassy in London, the British embassy in Tirana and through the European Union regarding the floods in Northern Albania. A number of countries in the region have already provided emergency assistance, and while the UK is not planning to provide direct aid, the Department for International Development (DFID) will continue to monitor the situation.

Bahrain: Detainees

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the government of Bahrain on its detention of Anthony James and his colleagues.

Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised Mr James' travel ban with the Crown Prince on 30 November 2010. Our ambassador in Bahrain continues to raise the issue with the Bahraini authorities.

Bahrain: Politics and Government

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the partnership between the National Policing Improvement Agency and the Kingdom of Bahrain Interior Ministry.

Nick Herbert: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) has a constructive and ongoing relationship with the Bahrain Ministry of Interior. The UK NPIA supports the Bahraini police reform programme (which comes under the remit of the Ministry of Interior), delivering training on operations, community policing, criminal investigation and forensic science. At the request of the Ministry of Interior, further courses are being planned.

BBC External Services

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports on the effectiveness of the BBC World Service he received from British embassies and high commissions in  (a) 2009 and  (b) 2010.

Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) carries out an annual survey of its heads of mission on the effectiveness of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service in the countries to which they are accredited. Their comments are used for internal discussions of priorities both within the BBC World Service and between the World Service and the FCO.
	Posts overseas are also invited to contribute to discussions between the FCO and the BBC World Service on the respective priorities and objectives of the two organisations.

BBC External Services

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Ministers in his Department have received unfavourable comment from their foreign counterparts on the operation of the BBC World Service since 6 May 2010.

Jeremy Browne: No Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have received any such comments.

British Council

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the future of the British Council assistantship programme; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: I have been asked to reply.
	The Foreign Language Assistants programme, which is managed for the Department by the British Council, will continue as usual with recruitment for 2011-12 now open. The programme supports departmental and Government priorities by exposing pupils in our schools to mother-tongue speakers of other languages through the intake of foreign language assistants; and provides an opportunity for undergraduates from our universities to immerse themselves in a foreign language while working as an English language assistant in a school abroad.

British Council: Aviation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on the use by British Council staff of economy tickets for travel to and from the UK in the last three years.

Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold information on individual travel by British Council staff.
	Current British Council travel policy for air journeys is that economy class should be used where the flight time is under eight hours and premium economy where the flight time is eight hours or more. Where premium economy is not available, business class may be booked.
	Prior to November 2010, economy class was specified when the flight time was under five hours.

Cameroon: Politics and Government

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the safety of journalists in Cameroon; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: We continue to be concerned about politically-inspired human rights abuses perpetrated against journalists in Cameroon. All forms of intimidation, harassment and arbitrary arrests are unacceptable. We strongly support the right to freedom of speech and press, and regularly call for an end to all such abuses and encourage the adherence to internationally accepted human rights standards in Cameroon.
	We continue to press the Cameroonian authorities to decriminalise defamation. In parallel, we continue to encourage the authorities to create an effective media self- regulatory body to make journalists more responsible in their reporting. We have funded high-level training for journalists in Cameroon on ethics and professionalism.
	We are closely following the case of Bibi Ngota, a journalist who died while on remand in prison in August 2010. Our High Commissioner in Yaounde has made representations on this issue (including the worrying allegations of torture) to the Prime Minister of Cameroon and the Vice Prime Minister in Charge of Justice. As a result of international pressure, the President of Cameroon commissioned a judicial investigation: we await details of the investigation's findings. We welcome the recent release of two other journalists that were detained in connection with the same affair.
	We are closely following a case brought against four TV journalists for allegedly exposing classified information, linked to their investigation into various corruption scandals involving Government officials and influential tycoons.

Climate Change: International Cooperation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from his Special Representative for Climate Change on the potential effect of the conclusions of the DARA report on the Climate Vulnerability Monitor 2010 on his Department's expenditure priorities; and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and the Secretary of State for International Development on the matter.

Henry Bellingham: The Special Representative for Climate Change-John Ashton-and other officials from my department attended the launch event for the Climate Vulnerable Monitor 2010 on 3 December. I welcome its publication and its potential to play a valuable role in persuading people and governments to take climate change more seriously.
	The Government did not have input into the report itself, nor do its conclusions specifically affect the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's expenditure priorities. An effective response to climate change underpins both UK security and prosperity and must be a central objective of British foreign policy.
	An effective deployment of foreign policy assets is crucial to mobilising the political will needed if we are to shape an effective response, and our global network of UK climate attaches is widely recognised as a valuable source of influence and ideas on the politics and economics of climate change.

Colombia: Extradition

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights on extradition to Colombia.

Jeremy Browne: No such discussions have taken place.

Council of Ministers

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of meetings of the Council of Ministers were open to the public in the last 12 months.

David Lidington: All Council deliberations under the ordinary legislative procedure are available for the public to view live through the Council website on the internet
	http://www.consilium.europa.eu/showPage.aspx?id=245&lang=EN
	Other meetings are also sometimes available to be viewed. The decision on which meetings are open to the public rests with the presidency. Figures for the number of meetings available to be viewed are not automatically collated. The Council Secretariat is currently collating this information which I will forward separately to the Member on receipt.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Peacekeeping Operations

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of implementing the proposals to remove UN peacekeepers from the Democratic Republic of Congo on the political situation in the region.

Henry Bellingham: The UN Security Council has always been clear that the peacekeeping mission must exit the Democratic Republic of Congo as soon as conditions allow. Any reconfiguration and exit strategy will be determined in light of the security situation on the ground, and State capacity to protect civilians and maintain stability. All parties agree we must avoid a premature departure which could impact on civilian protection.
	In accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1925 (2010) and in consultation with the Government, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) has completed the withdrawal of 1,494 troops. The UN Security Council will continue to keep under continuous review the strength of the mission on the basis of regular assessments from both the UN and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo; the first of which should be reflected in the UN Secretary-General's next report to the Security Council in the new year.

Departmental Conferences

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken since his appointment to reduce expenditure on conferences from budgets within his responsibility.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) always strives to hold conferences and events in the most cost effective way possible. Within the UK, when appropriate, conferences are hosted at FCO premises and are planned by the FCO in-house conference and events team. Competitive quotations are always obtained for any external services to ensure we secure value for money.
	As directorates and posts overseas arrange events independently, no central record is held on the criteria for expenditure and the information requested could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Embassies: Electronic Surveillance

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many eavesdropping attempts against British embassies have been recorded in the last five years.

Alistair Burt: It is the longstanding policy of successive Governments not to comment on security and intelligence matters.

Greece: British Nationals Abroad

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress there has been in discussions with the Greek authorities to ensure that UK coroners are able to obtain police reports following the death of a British citizen in that country; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: Both the UK and Greece are party to a number of European instruments that facilitate co-operation between judicial systems within Europe. We are working hard bilaterally to improve the provision of locally-obtained information about deaths of British citizens in Greece to coroners in the UK. We have made Greek officials aware of the role and importance of the coroner service within our judicial system. Officials from the Ministry of Justice, with the support of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, are working with the Greek Ministry of Justice to make progress. We plan to meet the relevant Greek authorities early in 2011 so that inquests can be concluded without further delay.

Iran: Aviation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the government of  (a) Austria and  (b) Germany on permission for refuelling of Iranian planes; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Alistair Burt: The UK recently worked closely with European partners to adopt the EU's strongest ever sanctions package against Iran. While we do not encourage trade with Iran, these sanctions do not prohibit the sale of aviation fuel to Iranian airlines. The Government have written to fuel providers in the UK to clarify this fact. However, some companies in Europe have taken the commercial decision to stop providing fuel to Iranian airlines in line with their interpretation of US sanctions.

Iran: Cost of Living

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on changes in prices for  (a) food and  (b) fuel in Iran; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Alistair Burt: Economic mismanagement by the Iranian Government has been a major factor in domestic concern about economic issues. We are aware of sometimes significant increases in the cost of water, electricity, gas and some food products in Iran during 2010, although we have seen no uniform pattern across the country. The price of fuel has remained unchanged and it remains heavily subsidised.

Iran: Human Rights

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on human rights in Iran.

Alistair Burt: The human rights situation in Iran remains deeply disturbing. We regularly raise our concerns with the Iranian authorities, urging them to cease all abuses. Last month, we secured strong international condemnation of Iran's human rights record by the UN, through a resolution which was passed by 80 countries representing every continent. We are working closely with other EU member states to consider how to increase pressure on the Iranian regime urgently to improve its human rights record.

Iran: Prisoners

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to his Iranian counterpart on the case of Nasrin Sotoudeh; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: I remain deeply concerned about Nasrin Sotoudeh, lawyer and human rights defender currently in prison in Iran on charges which include working for a human rights organisation. We have repeatedly raised our concerns about human rights defenders in Iran with the Iranian authorities. On 15 November 2010, 1 issued a statement expressing my deep concern about Ms Sotoudeh. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary also raised her plight in a message to mark International Human Rights Day on 10 December.

Iran: Prisoners

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent representations he has made to the Government of Iran on the continued detention of Reza Shahabi;
	(2)  what representations he has made to the Government of Iran on the hunger strike of Reza Shahabi in Evin Prison, Tehran.

Alistair Burt: I raised our concerns about the ongoing detention of Iranian trade union leader Reza Shahabi with the Iranian ambassador in August. Since then, we have highlighted our wider concerns about the restrictions placed on Iranian trade unions in a resolution passed by the UN in November, condemning Iran's human rights record. We are concerned by reports that Mr Shahabi is on hunger-strike and I have asked my officials to seek further information. I will continue to raise our concerns about Iran's human rights record, including the repression of trade union activities, with the Iranian authorities.

Israel: Fires

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of casualties in the forest fire in Haifa and the Carmel Forest, Israel; whether any British casualties have been recorded; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We were in close touch with Israeli authorities following the outbreak of this fire. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made a statement on 3 December underlining that our thoughts were with all those who had lost family members or had had to leave their homes due to the blaze. As of 5 December the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre report that the fires had claimed 42 lives. None of these are reported as British nationals.
	The UK through the Royal Air Force deployed two helicopters from Cyprus to assist with the international effort to put out the fires. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also spoke to the Israeli Prime Minister on 3 December to underline our support.

Japan: Whales

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his counterpart in Japan on Japanese policy on whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Jeremy Browne: I refer the hon. Member to my response to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent North (Joan Walley) of 8 December 2010,  Official Report, column 315W.

Kashmir

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is on self-determination in Kashmir.

Alistair Burt: The long-standing position of the UK is that it is for Pakistan and India to find a lasting resolution to the situation in Kashmir, including the issue of self-determination of the Kashmiri people. Any resolution should therefore take into account the wishes of Kashmiris. It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution or to mediate in finding one. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reiterated this in the Foreign Affairs debate on 27 May and during his visit to Pakistan in June.

Kashmir

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential security threat to  (a) the UK,  (b) India,  (c) Pakistan and  (d) Kashmir arising from changes in the level of al-Qaeda presence in Kashmir; and what account has been taken of such assessments in his Department's policy on Kashmir.

Alistair Burt: We continue to call for an end to external support for violence in Kashmir and recognise that al-Qaeda core pose a significant threat by directing other groups, networks and individuals to mount attacks in all areas in South Asia as well as against UK interests. The UK is working with the governments of Pakistan and India to tackle terrorism and violent extremism which threatens all our interests.
	However, the long-standing position of the UK is that it is for Pakistan and India to find a lasting resolution to the situation in Kashmir, one which takes into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution or to mediate in finding one. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reiterated this in the Foreign Affairs debate on 27 May and during his visit to Pakistan in June.

Lithuania: Anti-Semitism

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the letter of 25 November 2010 sent by the UK and other ambassadors in Lithuania concerning the growing manifestations of anti-Semitism in Lithuania.

David Lidington: It has not been the practice of successive Governments to publish letters sent by diplomats in a confidential capacity. It is important for the effective conduct of international relations for diplomacy to be able to take place on a confidential basis where necessary.

Mikhail Khordorkovsky

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct Her Majesty's ambassador in Moscow to convey to the judicial authorities in Russia the concern of many right hon. and hon. Members regarding the continuing imprisonment of Mr Mikhail Khordorkovsky.

David Lidington: It is not for the Government to comment on the specifics of ongoing judicial processes, but our long-standing position has been to stress the importance of the rule of law-including fair and impartial trials. Our embassy in Moscow is closely watching developments in Mr Khodorkovsky's case, and is participating in trial monitoring with EU partners and the United States. We regularly raise concerns with the Russian Government bilaterally-including through our annual human rights dialogue-and with EU partners, and will continue to do so.

Pakistan: Capital Punishment

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Pakistan authorities on the death sentence on Asia Bibi under blasphemy laws; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. In Pakistan, alongside EU colleagues, we regularly raise our support for its abolition and work with civil society to encourage reform.
	Our high commission in Islamabad has raised the case of Mrs Asia Bibi with the Punjab Government and we will continue to do so at a senior level. Specific representations to the Government of Pakistan are being made by the head of the EU delegation, with UK support, in Islamabad. I raised the case of Asia Bibi with the Pakistan Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, on 9 December 2010.

Uganda: Press Freedom

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the African Union on the likely effects on the international obligations of Uganda of enacting the Press and Journalist Amendment Bill in that country.

Henry Bellingham: I have not discussed Uganda's Press and Journalism Amendment Bill with African Union representatives. Officials from our high commission in Kampala have, however, raised the proposed Bill with the Ugandan Foreign Minister, the Minister of Guidance and Information, and the Deputy Attorney-General.
	In each case the UK has called for the legislation to be drafted in line with Uganda's own constitution and relevant international standards. The UK also has a regular dialogue with the African Union Commission on governance, including press freedom, in Africa.

USA: Disclosure of Information

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the US administration on the disclosure of classified material by Wikileaks.

Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to Secretary Clinton on 26 November 2010 about a range of issues including Wikileaks.

Written Questions: Government Responses

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to provide a substantive answer to Question 27479, on the Council of Ministers, tabled on 24 November 2010.

David Lidington: From May to September 2010 (the latest month for which there is an official EU record publicly available), the Government agreed to adopt the following legal acts by legislative procedure:
	1. Position of the Council at first reading with a view to the adoption of Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the framework for the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in the field of road transport and for interfaces with other modes of transport
	6103/4/10 REV 4
	2. Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on transportable pressure equipment and repealing Council Directives 76/767/EEC, 84/525/EEC, 84/526/EEC, 84/527/EEC and 1999/36/EC (Text with EEA relevance)
	PE-CONS 14/1/10 REV 1
	3. Regulation (EU) No 540/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 June 2010 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA)
	PE-CONS 12/1/10 REV 1
	4. Position of the Council at first reading with a view to the adoption of a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes
	6106/1/10 REV 1
	5. Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on Union guidelines for the development of the trans European transport network (Recast)
	PE-CONS 13/2/10
	6. Regulation (EU) No 641/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2010 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 247/2006 laying down specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union
	PE-CONS 23/1/10 REV 1
	7. Regulation (EU) No 640/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2010 establishing a catch documentation programme for bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus and amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1984/2003
	PE-CONS 17/1/10 REV 1
	8. Directive 2010/45/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2010 on standards of quality and safety of human organs intended for transplantation
	PE-CONS 19/2/10 REV 2
	9. Decision No 388/2010/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2010 providing macrofinancial assistance to Ukraine
	PE-CONS 20/1/10 REV 1
	10. Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the participation of the Union in a Joint Baltic Sea Research and Development Programme (BONUS) undertaken by several member states (Text with EEA relevance)
	PE-CONS 21/10
	11. Council Directive 2010/45/EU of 13 July 2010 amending Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax as regards the rules on invoicing
	10858/10
	12. Position of the Council at first reading with a view to the adoption of a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council extending Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 to nationals of third countries who are not already covered by these Regulations solely on the ground of their nationality
	11160/4/10 REV 4
	13. 2010/427/EU: Council Decision of 26 July 2010 establishing the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service
	11665/1/10 REV 1
	14. Draft amending budget No 3 of the European Union for the financial year 2010-Council position
	DAB No 3/2010
	8434/10
	15. Draft amending budget No 5 of the European Union for the financial year 2010-Council position
	DAB No 5/2010
	11208/10
	16. Draft amending budget No 6 of the European Union for the financial year 2010-Council position
	DAB No 6/2010
	11251/10
	17. Draft amending budget No 7 of the European Union for the financial year 2010-Council position
	DAB No 7/2010
	112119/10
	18. Position of the Council at first reading with a view to the adoption of a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing Council Directive 89/106/EEC (Text with EEA relevance)
	10753/3/10 REV 3
	19. Position of the Council at first reading with a view to the adoption of a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the application of patients' rights in cross-border health care
	11038/2/10 REV 2
	20. Regulation (EU) No 911 /2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 on the European Earth monitoring programme (GMES) and its initial operations (2011 to 2013) Text with EEA relevance
	PE-CONS 22/10
	21. Regulation (EU) No 912/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 setting up the European GNSS Agency, repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1321/2004 on the establishment of structures for the management of the European satellite radio navigation programmes and amending Regulation (EC) No 683/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council
	PE-CONS 24/1/10 REV 1
	The following measures, on which the Government abstained were adopted (on the basis of qualified majority voting):
	22. Regulation (EU) No 539/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 June 2010 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund as regards simplification of certain requirements and as regards certain provisions relating to financial management
	PE-CONS 9/3/10 REV 3
	23. Directive 2010/41/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2010 on the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity in a self-employed capacity and repealing Council Directive 86/613/EEC
	PE-CONS 18/2/10 REV 2
	During this period, the Government have not voted against any measures adopted on the basis of qualified majority voting.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Council Tax Benefits

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will publish his Department's analysis of the effects of the implementation of the Government's policy to localise and reduce council tax benefit by 10 per cent. on  (a) Sunderland city council,  (b) other local authorities in the North East and  (c) local authorities in England.

Bob Neill: The Government are working to develop the new arrangements. As such, the Department has not undertaken such analysis.

Departmental Consultants

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) contract and  (b) project brief relating to the engagement by his Department of LLM Communications to assist the Campaign for More and Better Homes.

Grant Shapps: The last Government used public funds to pay LLM Communications to organise a series of housing debates on behalf of the Campaign for More and Better Homes (an independent coalition of cross-sector housing organisations).
	I have today placed in the Library of the House a copy of the Programme Proposal that was provided by the Campaign for More and Better Homes. The Department no longer holds on record a copy of the contract relating to the Campaign for More and Better Homes and LLM Communications.
	As outlined in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's press notice of 5 August 2010, my Department has instructed its arm's length bodies to cancel all outstanding contracts with lobbyists:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/newsroom/1666195

Departmental Contracts

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department plans to take to encourage and support small and medium-sized enterprises and third sector organisations to compete for departmental contracts in line with value-for-money policy, UK regulations and EU procurement directives.

Bob Neill: The Department fully support the Government's aspirations to award 25% of contracts to small and medium-sized enterprises while ensuring that value for money to the tax payer is not compromised. The steps the Department has taken so far to engage with these enterprises are:
	DCLG will highlight contracts that have been awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises when we publish our contracts in full from January 2011;
	DCLG already makes extensive use of Office of Government Commerce model pre-qualification questionnaires in its day to day procurement activities and will adopt the newly issued mandatory pre-qualification question set by 1 January 2011 (with arm's length bodies to follow by 1 March 2011) in accordance with Cabinet Office timescales;
	DCLG endorses the continued approach to ensure that all suppliers and their subcontractors are paid promptly and within existing targets;
	DCLG will also work with Cabinet Office to support their approach to eliminate overly prescriptive and burdensome procurement processes as part of the initiative to speed up procurement.
	The Department has started to make positive steps in levelling the playing field for these enterprises while also acknowledging that there is more work to be done. 16% of the Department's spend in the last financial year was with small and medium-sized enterprises.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay of 8 April 2010,  Official Report, House of Lords, column WA454, on government expenditure, by how much the previous administration proposed to reduce funding to  (a) the New Deal for Communities programme,  (b) the Working Neighbourhoods Fund,  (c) the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative,  (d) the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant,  (e) other time-limited communities programmes funded by his Department,  (f) other programmes operated by his Department and  (g) housing growth and regeneration funding.

Bob Neill: The previous Government's pre-Budget report in December 2009 proposed cuts of £340 million from regeneration funding. This includes £40 million from closing the New Deal for Communities, and £300 million from cuts to Regional Development Agency regeneration spending and programmes; the Working Neighbourhoods Fund; the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative, and the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant.
	The savings also included cutting £25 million from smaller DCLG communities programmes and £100 million from other small DCLG programmes, as well as savings of £35 million in housing benefit from reducing fraud.
	Decisions on the split of savings between individual programmes were not finalised by the previous Administration.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent accounts of each part of the Local Government Group.

Bob Neill: The Local Government (LG) Group is owned by its member local authorities. It is independent of central Government, and questions about its activities should be put directly to them. However, the LG Group has provided the Department with the 2009-10 annual accounts for the bodies within the group:
	Local Government Association
	Improvement and Development Agency
	Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services
	Employers Organisation for Local Government
	Public Private Partnerships Programme
	Local Government International Bureau
	Leadership Centre for Local Government.
	Copies of these accounts will be placed in the Library.

Departmental Publications

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the expenditure of his Department and its predecessors on printing  (a) Command Papers,  (b) papers laid before Parliament by Act,  (c) consultation documents and  (d) other papers in each of the last 10 years.

Bob Neill: The requested information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Housing: Construction

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much land in each local authority area  (a) is available for development and  (b) was so available in each of the last 10 years.

Grant Shapps: Local authorities publish information on how much land is available for housing in their Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessments.
	Information on previously developed land that may be available for development is provided in the National Land Use Database. Statistics for 2008 are published on the Homes and Communities website in Table S1 in the report at the following link:
	http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/public/documents/NLUD_%20FINAL%20accessible.pdf
	Statistics for 2006 and 2007 are published on the Department for Communities and Local Government website, via the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/planningbuilding/planningstatistics/previouslydevelopedbrownfield/
	Statistics for 2001 to 2005 are available through the archived National Land Use Database website, via the following link:
	http://tna.europarchive.org/20081209183550/http://www.nlud.org.uk/draft_one/results/results_index.htm

Housing: Prices

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking towards the policy aim of being in a position where house prices continue to grow; and what estimate he has made of house price growth in each of the next five years.

Grant Shapps: House prices have doubled in the last 10 years, putting home ownership beyond the reach of many potential first time buyers. This Government believe that what is needed now is not a return to rapid house price growth, but a period of house price stability. House price stability creates the right conditions for the building industry, and can thus contribute to a sustainable economic recovery.
	Achieving this depends above all on the return to economic and financial stability which the Government are seeking to achieve through debt reduction and their commitment to abolish the structural deficit.
	The recent house price forecasts produced by the new independent Office of Budget Responsibility for the autumn statement and the latest average of the HM Treasury's independent forecasts suggest there will be modest falls in house prices in 2011 and rises beyond.
	Details can be found at:
	http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/econ-fiscal-outlook.html
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/data_forecasts_index.htm

Housing: Prices

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the likely effects of falling house prices to 2015 on  (a) the number of homes that will be sold and  (b) the number of homeowners in negative equity.

Grant Shapps: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not publish housing market forecasts.
	According to the recent house price forecasts produced by the new independent Office of Budget Responsibility for the Economic and fiscal outlook report this autumn, and the latest average of the HM Treasury's independent forecasts, there will be modest falls in house prices in 2011 and rises beyond.
	Any effects of falling house prices on  (a) the number of homes that will be sold and  (b) the number of homeowners in negative equity, will be correspondingly modest.
	For further details please see:
	http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/econ-fiscal-outlook.html
	Negative equity estimates are produced by the Bank of England. The most recent figures can be found at:
	http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/quarterlybulletin/qb090203.pdf

Land: Registration

George Freeman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect on local authorities of funding personal land charge searches through general council tax revenues rather than payments by the service user.

Jonathan Djanogly: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have carried out an assessment of the costs of revoking the fee for a personal search of the local land charges register. As I explained to my hon. Friend in my answer to his question of 16 September 2010,  Official Report, column 1190W, there should not be any loss of income to local authorities in England in the current financial year, as the loss will be met by central Government. For 2011-12 and in future years the ongoing loss of fees has been taken into account as part of the spending review settlement.

Local Government Finance

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to pilot tax increment financing measures in 2011-12.

Bob Neill: The Government have confirmed that they will legislate to introduce powers to allow tax increment financing and we will move as quickly as possible to do so. We are considering how to deliver tax increment financing in the context of our wider proposals on business rates retention. The Local Government Resource Review will look at both issues in the round and develop proposals by July 2011.

Mortgages

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with  (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and  (b) the Financial Services Authority on the its mortgage market review; and if he will publish the record of each such discussion.

Grant Shapps: The new Government are committed to supporting aspiration to home ownership and share the underlying objective of the Mortgage Market Review to create a stable, sustainable market for all participants. We must avoid the boom and bust that the property market has experienced in the last decade.
	We want to see a regulatory framework that supports access to home ownership and new housing supply while preventing repossessions.
	The Government believe the regulatory changes made by the Financial Services Authority must be proportionate and avoid unnecessary prescription on the mortgage industry.
	My officials have worked closely with the Financial Services Authority and the Council of Mortgage Lenders on these proposals and will continue to do so. I have discussions with Treasury Ministers on a range of issues relating to my ministerial brief. The Financial Services Authority recently made a presentation on their responsible lending proposals to the Home Finance Forum, which I jointly chair with the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

Private Rented Housing: Rents

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department uses information from propertyfinder.com to determine average market rents.

Grant Shapps: The Department does not use information from propertyfinder.com to determine average market rents.

Revenue Support Grant

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to announce the Revenue Support Grant for 2011-12.

Bob Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to the oral statement made today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

Right to Buy Scheme

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to change the discount level on Right to Buy sales.

Grant Shapps: The Government have no plans to change Right to Buy discounts.

Social Rented Housing

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will publish his Department's impact analysis on the social effects of implementing the Government's policy on flexible social housing tenancy.

Grant Shapps: We will publish an impact assessment on social housing tenure reform in due course.

Social Rented Housing

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will assess the effect on the  (a) right to remain,  (b) rent levels and  (c) succession rights of social housing tenants of his proposals for social housing.

Grant Shapps: There will be no changes to the security and rights of existing social tenants. The Government proposes to provide social landlords with freedom to offer fixed-term or lifetime tenancies and additional succession rights to new tenants.
	We propose that landlords will continue to let properties at social rents except where development agreements reached with the Homes and Communities Agency provide for an Affordable Rent to apply.
	Detailed information about the new delivery model for affordable housing will be published in the new year. In addition a written ministerial statement setting out more details on the Affordable Rent product was made on 9 December 2010,  Official Report, columns 31-34WS.
	Our policy paper on social housing reform 'Local decisions: a fairer future for social housing' has been placed in the Library of the House, and we welcome representations and comments during the consultation period.

Social Rented Housing

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to inform  (a) local authorities and  (b) housing associations on the level of income above which tenants may be required to vacate social housing;
	(2)  what provision he plans to make for  (a) local authorities and  (b) housing associations to collect information on the incomes of social housing tenants under his proposed reforms and what estimate he has made of the likely cost to the public purse of such activity.

Grant Shapps: The Government proposes to provide local authorities and housing associations with freedom to offer fixed-term or lifetime tenancies to new tenants. Social housing providers will be expected to set their own policies for the award and renewal of tenancies of different types.
	There will be no changes to the security and rights of existing social tenants.
	These proposals are subject to consultation and a copy of the policy paper has been placed in the Library of the House.

Social Rented Housing

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to publish a draft direction on the new Tenancy Standard arising from his proposals for changes to social tenancy conditions.

Grant Shapps: We will publish a summary of responses to our proposals (set out in "Local decisions: a fairer future for social housing") following the end of the consultation period on 17 January, and will at that stage make clear our views on the likely content of a Tenancy Direction.
	Full consultation on a formal direction to the regulator on the content of a Tenancy Standard will take place later in 2011.

Social Rented Housing

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his Department's policy is on tenant management of housing owned by  (a) local authorities and  (b) registered social landlords; and if he will make a statement.

Grant Shapps: Local authority tenants wishing to take over the management of their homes from their landlord have a statutory right to do so under the Housing (Right to Manage) (England) Regulations 2008. Tenants of registered social landlords can enter into a voluntary agreement with their landlord if they wish to manage their housing.

Social Rented Housing: Construction

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many social homes were built in each financial year since 1997-98; and how many are expected to be built during financial years  (a) 2010-11 and  (b) 2011-12.

Andrew Stunell: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Coventry South (Mr Cunningham) on 29 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 470-71W.
	Information on the numbers of affordable homes provided in each financial year since 1997-98 to 2009-10 is published in Live Table 1009 on the Department for Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/1406088.xls

Social Rented Housing: Disability

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure the provision of social housing which meets the needs of people with disabilities.

Andrew Stunell: Under the allocation legislation certain people must be given 'reasonable preference' for social housing and this includes people who need to move on medical or welfare grounds, including grounds relating to a disability.
	In the spending review we announced investment of over £6.5 billion in housing. This includes over £2 billion to make existing social homes decent and almost £4.5billion investment in new affordable housing to deliver up to 150,000 affordable homes.
	We have also secured £6.5 billion of funding to Supporting People helping vulnerable people and those with disabilities live independent lives.

Temporary Accommodation: Homelessness

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 1 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 543-44W, on temporary accommodation: homelessness, to which local authorities the answer refers.

Grant Shapps: The representations referred to in the answer of 1 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 543-44W, Temporary Accommodation: Homelessness, are representations received from the London boroughs of Newham, Wandsworth and Westminster. The issue of greater flexibility in how local authorities are permitted to discharge the main homelessness duty has also been raised with officials at the Department for Communities and Local Government informally by a number of other local housing authorities.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what date his Department plans to bring forward its proposed amendments to planning circular ODPM 01/2006 on Gypsy and Traveller sites.

Bob Neill: We want to move expeditiously but subject to proper process in relation to our intention to withdraw Circular 01/2006 and will be holding a public consultation in the new year. Circular 01/2006 is currently extant but decision makers are entitled to have regard to the fact that it is proposed to withdraw it.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department plans to take to establish the number of Traveller pitches in each local authority area; and whether he expects local residents to participate in that process.

Bob Neill: Local authorities are best placed to determine how to meet their housing needs-including Traveller site provision-in consultation with local communities.
	The Government are committed to abolishing regional strategies via the Localism Bill. This will remove the system of top-down Traveller site targets and make local authorities responsible for determining the right level of site provision in their area.
	We have announced our intention to withdraw circulars 01/2006 ("Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites") and 04/2007 ("Planning for Travelling Showpeople") and will be holding a public consultation on this in the new year. The details of our proposed light-touch replacement policy will be set out in that.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the two answers of 3 November 2010,  Official Report, column 817W, on social rented housing: rents, and the answer of 11 November 2010,  Official Report, column 458W, on housing: construction, and the determinations of the Procedure Committee of 22 and 25 November 2010, when he plans to provide further responses to the Questions tabled by the hon. Member for Plymouth, Moor View.

Grant Shapps: I am now able to provide further responses to the questions tabled by the hon. Member.
	Pursuant to the answers provided on 3 November 2010 the Department has national level information on market rents for privately-owned properties from the English Housing Survey from 2008-09 onwards and the Survey of English Housing prior to 2008-09. The most recent national level estimates were published on 27 October 2010 in the English Housing Survey Household Report 2008-09 which is available from:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/pdf/1750765.pdf
	Regional level results are based on a two year average due to sample size issues. The most recent regional level estimates are an average for 2006-07 and 2007-08, available from:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/141656.xls
	Updated regional rent estimates will be available when the 2009-10 data are published in 2011.
	Information on median rents for broad rental market areas, used to determine local housing allowance rates, is published by the Valuation Office Agency and is available from:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/LHADirect/Documents/LHA_percentile_rates_Nov_2010.html
	Estimating market rents of social rented properties is not straightforward and different approaches can be taken. One example is in research carried out by Professor Steve Wilcox for DCLG where an assessment of regional social rents in comparison to market levels is made in terms of the capital value of the property, rental yield and housing association management and maintenance costs.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/rentspolicyanalysis
	As I set out in my written ministerial statement on 9 December 2010,  Official Report, column 31-34WS, our new delivery model for affordable housing will allow housing associations to set rents of up to 80% of market rent on some properties. A housing association's calculation of the market rent would need to be based on a residential lettings estimate for a property of the appropriate size, condition and area. Valuations should be in accordance with a RICS recognised method. The Homes and Communities Agency will publish a full framework document early next year that will form the basis for bids from providers who are interested in offering affordable rent.
	With regard to the question answered on 11 November relating to estimate made of the total number of new homes to be built in each year of the next six years. We do not provide estimates of future new build numbers, as forecasting is imprecise and could affect market sentiment. However, there are various private sector organisations who can, and do, use our statistics to make their own forecasts.
	Ultimately, the number of new homes that are built will depend upon market conditions and decisions that are taken at the local level. This Government are rebalancing power from central Government to local authorities and local people, replacing top down targets with fiscal incentives for local authorities to develop housing. We are also seeking to remove unnecessary regulation on the house building industry.

JUSTICE

Blood: Contamination

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether an inquest has been requested by the family of any person who has died as a result of being infected with contaminated blood products in NHS facilities since 1985.

Jonathan Djanogly: Coroners have a statutory duty to hold an inquest in certain cases, and do so only at the request of bereaved families in very exceptional circumstances. Although the Ministry of Justice collects and publishes statistics from coroners in England and Wales during each calendar year, we do not collect explicit information of such an individual nature and this information is not held centrally otherwise. On 14 October I announced plans to introduce changes to the coroner system and as we take this forward there may be an opportunity to review the matters on which annual statistics are collected and published.

Civil Proceedings: Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to issue guidance to judges on conduct in a dispute to be considered  (a) frivolous or fraudulent and  (b) unreasonable or obscure in order to avoid qualified one-way costs shifting under his proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper.

Jonathan Djanogly: The consultation paper, "Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales-Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations", published on 15 November 2010, sets out proposals for introducing qualified one way costs shifting. We await responses in order to be able to take a view on the way forward on this issue.

Civil Proceedings: Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will estimate the annual number of cases of  (a) injuries of maximum severity,  (b) road traffic accidents,  (c) clinical negligence,  (d) occupier and public liability accident,  (e) occupational disease and  (f) employers' liability accidents with realistic prospects of success which will not be brought as a consequence of implementation of the proposals in the Civil Litigation Green Paper.

Jonathan Djanogly: It is not possible to make detailed estimates in these areas, as this will depend, in part, on the individual decisions of claimants, defendants, lawyers and insurers on a case by case basis. The preliminary impact assessments can be found at
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/consultations.htm
	and respondents are invited to comment on the preliminary impacts identified.

Claims Management Regulator

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many claims handlers have  (a) been refused registration and  (b) had their registration rescinded by the Claims Management Regulator in 2010 to date.

Jonathan Djanogly: I can confirm that:
	 (a) From 1 January until 30 November 2010, the Claims Management Regulator has refused authorisation of 10 Claims Management Companies.
	 (b) From 1 January until 30 November 2010, the Claims Management Regulator rescinded the authorisation of 179 Claims Management Companies.

Conditional Fee Agreements

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will review his Department's proposals on amendment or abolition of the indemnity principle in costs in order to simplify the  (a) drafting and  (b) comprehensibility for litigants of conditional fee agreements.

Jonathan Djanogly: As set out at paragraph 276 of "Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales-Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations", the Government are not proposing any further work on the indemnity principle at this stage.

Conditional Fee Agreements: Scotland

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has estimated the annual number of visible personal injury claims not pursued through the courts in Scotland as a result of rules on non-recovery of  (a) success fees for conditional fee agreements and  (b) after-the-event insurance premiums.

Jonathan Djanogly: We have made no such estimate. Preliminary impact assessments were published alongside "Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales-Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Proposals", and can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/consultations.htm
	Respondents are invited to comment on the preliminary impacts identified.

Court of Protection

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many complaints the Court of Protection has  (a) received and  (b) resolved in each of the last 10 years.

Jonathan Djanogly: Prior to the commencement of the Mental Capacity Act on 1 October 2007, the Public Guardianship Office (PGO) acted as the administrative arm of the then Court of Protection (CoP) and the two functioned as a combined entity.
	On 1 October 2007 the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and a new Court of Protection were created and the OPG initially provided administrative support to the Court.
	On 1 April 2009 the CoP administration transferred to Her Majesty's Court Service and from that date complaints relating to the Court have been handled independently from the OPG.
	Records of complaints received are available from December 2001 and are as follows:
	
		
			  Complaints 
			  Period  PGO/CoP  OPG  CoP 
			 3 December 2001 to 31 March 2002 460 - - 
			 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 1,807 - - 
			 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 577 - - 
			 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 591 - - 
			 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 437 - - 
			 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 712 - - 
			 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 - 918 358 
			 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009  1,969 890 
			 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010  1,827 563 
			 1 April 2010 to 30 November 2010  (1)4,389 237 
			 (1) In this period the OPG changed its complaints process and improved the mechanisms by which complaints were recorded. In addition there was also a significant increase in volumes of work during this period and a large majority of the complaints related to delays caused by the resultant backlog.  Notes: 1. Between 3 December 2001 and 30 November 2010, 129 complaints were referred onwards from the OPG to either the Adjudicator's Office or the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) to consider further due to the complainant being dissatisfied with the outcome. Of these, 30 were not upheld, 30 were partially upheld, two were upheld, one was withdrawn and six are still ongoing. Records of the other referrals are unavailable 2. For Court of Protection complaints approximately 25% are related to judicial decisions or to fees which cannot be dealt with by the Court itself.

Court of Protection

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the current value is of the Court of Protection Fund held at the Bank of England; what rate of interest has accrued in respect of that fund in each of the last 10 years; and what the rate of interest is expected to be in 2010-11.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Court Funds Office (CFO) holds approximately £2 billion of funds on behalf of approximately 16,000 Court of Protection clients. Funds paid into court are not held by the Bank of England. All funds deposited with CFO are transferred to the Court Funds Investment Account (CFIA). The CFIA is administered on behalf of the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt by the UK Debt Management Office an Executive agency of HM Treasury.
	The following interest rates have applied to funds held on behalf of Court of Protection clients over the last 10 years:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 From 1 August 1999 7 
			 From 1 February 2002 6 
			 From 1 February 2009 3 
			 From 1 June 2009 1.5 
			 From 1 July 2009 0.5 
		
	
	It is not possible to predict what interest rates CFO will be able to pay on client funds in the future. Interest rates are set and regularly reviewed by the Lord Chancellor with the concurrence of the Treasury. In reviewing the rate paid the Lord Chancellor takes into account a number of factors including-the amount of interest received on funds against the amount of interest paid to clients, the level and mix of funds held by CFO and administration costs. Taking into account all of these factors the Lord Chancellor decides on the appropriate level of interest paid on funds held in court. The Lord Chancellor will be keeping the rates paid on the special account under review, and will make a direction to change the rate when necessary with the agreement of the Treasury.

Court of Protection

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the  (a) longest,  (b) shortest and  (c) average time taken was for families to access funds of individuals deemed to have mental incapacity by the Court of Protection in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jonathan Djanogly: Since October 2007, the average time taken by the Court of Protection to appoint a deputy with authority to access funds on behalf of a person who lacks capacity is 14 weeks against a service standard of 21 weeks. Where urgent access to funds is required, for example to pay care costs, the court will make emergency orders which in exceptional cases can be made on the same day as the application. Where a case is contentious, for example where the family cannot agree on a course of action, the final decision may take longer than 21 weeks. Where necessary, the court will put in place interim arrangements allowing someone to access funds to meet the immediate needs of the person who lacks capacity.
	Funds may be held in court by the Court Funds Office (CFO) on behalf of a person who lacks capacity. If a deputy has been appointed by the Court of Protection with authority to access funds held by the CFO, the deputy may submit a payment request to the CFO to withdraw funds on behalf of the person they represent. Between 1 April 2010 and 31 October 2010 the Court Funds Office processed 97.2% of payment requests within five days of receipt of a properly completed payment request.

Courts: Closures

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has received representations from Nottinghamshire police on the consequences for them of closing  (a) Retford and  (b) Worksop court.

Jonathan Djanogly: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him of 1 November 2010,  Official Report, column 510W, where I said
	"Nottinghamshire Police Authority has submitted a county wide response to the consultation proposals. This is being carefully considered alongside the other responses received. We hope to announce decisions by the end of the year."

Departmental Communications

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 59-60W, on departmental communications, if he will publish an itemised account of the amount spent by the Information Commissioner's Office on  (a) internal and  (b) external communications in each year from 2000-01 to 2009-10.

Jonathan Djanogly: The following table provides an itemised account of spending by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) on internal and external communications where information is available. Detailed information on expenditure is retained for six years. Therefore no figures are available before 2004-05.
	The figures provided are based on actual invoices. Therefore they vary slightly from those given in the answer of 8 November 2010 which were based on the ICO's annual accounts, which are accruals rather than cash based. They do however reconcile. This information has been provided by the ICO.
	
		
			  ICO expenditure on internal and external communications 
			  £ 
			  Cost headings  2009-10  2008-09  2007-08  2006-07  2005-06  2004-05 
			 Annual report 44,341.81 46,667.04 39,240.22 35,198.62 27,510.74 34,917.04 
			 Campaigns 53,229.88 364,208.48 73,322.35 163,727.44 (1)-22,936.96 0 
			 Media monitoring and press cuttings 24,697.73 28,243.96 53,048.77 39,607.04 32,575.37 26,822.89 
			 Media relations 34,329.79 8,448.10 48,884.72 211.50 44,206.57 195,703.38 
			 Conferences and seminars 74,397.59 70,093.91 36,102.48 24,774.25 86,647.06 31,915.58 
			 Design and print 258,210.13 74,884.66 160,278.55 428,274.38 311,252.10 197,137.43 
			 Distributions 103,439.92 135,313.21 140,680.08 106,485.05 78,617.80 50,306.88 
			 Management fees(2) 385,465.71 347,184.28 339,218.93 341,473.39 282,533.58 146,507.47 
			 Online 220,059.42 245,837.90 271,303.94 434,735.87 236,190.32 196,223.54 
			 Research 76,522.16 140,145.05 283,585.60 256,183.13 278,625.42 187,664.10 
			 Internal communications 11,582.91 12,323.06 36,999.21 20,334.86 (3)- (3)- 
			 Total 1,286,277.05 1,473,349.65 1,482,664.85 1,851,005.53 1,355,222.00 1,067,198.31 
			 (1) Represents a refund for a cancelled campaign.  (2) Fees paid to professional partners and consultants, e.g. for running the ICO Press Office (in-house from 1 October 2010); and also to the Central Office of Information.  (3) Not available. There was minimal expenditure on internal communications during 2005-06 and 2004-05 and what expenditure there was cannot be individually identified.

Departmental Conferences

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his Department's annual budget for conferences was at  (a) 7 May 2010 and  (b) 7 December 2010.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice does not centrally monitor budgets for conference expenditure. Conference budgets are set by individual business groups from their total resource allocation and are subject to change through the year as each group manages its spending and responds to local business needs.

Drugs: Offences

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions there were for drug offences in the  (a) six months to 6 May 2010 and  (b) six months from 6 May 2010.

Crispin Blunt: Information on the number of persons found guilty at all courts for drug offences for the years 2000 to 2009 (the latest available) can be viewed in the table.
	The Ministry of Justice plan to publish information on 2010 court proceedings in the spring of 2011.
	
		
			  N umber of persons found guilty at all courts for drug offences in England and Wales, 2000-09( 1)( , )( 2) 
			  Area  2000( 3)  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008( 4)  2009 
			 England and Wales 44,621 45,621 49,036 51,162 39,197 39,090 39,582 44,565 52,941 56,793 
			 (1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Staffordshire police force were only able to supply a sample of data for magistrates courts proceedings covering one full week in each quarter for 2000. Estimates based on this sample are included in the figures as they are considered sufficiently robust at this high level of analysis. (4) Excludes convictions for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008.  Source:  Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.

Family Courts

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect on the average length of time a case is in the family courts of litigants choosing to represent themselves; and if he will make a treatment.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice has not made an assessment of the effects on the average length of time a case takes in the family courts of litigants choosing to represent themselves.
	We do have information on whether or not the applicant(s) and respondent(s) in the case had a legal representative. It should be noted that parties without a recorded representative are not necessarily litigants in person.
	The following table gives details of the average durations of family cases completed in the financial year 2009-10, split by case type and by whether or not the applicant(s) and respondent(s) in the case had a legal representative.
	Figures are only given for the High Court and the county courts as information is not available for all Family Proceedings courts. The High Court and county courts hear almost all divorce cases, about 25% of all public law cases and about 80% of all private law cases.
	
		
			  Average duration of cases completed in county courts or the High Court in England and Wales between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010, by legal representation 
			   Divorce  Public law  Private law 
			  Legal representative  Mean duration (weeks)  Number of decrees absolute  Mean duration (weeks)  Number of orders  Mean duration (weeks)  Number of orders 
			 Both applicant and respondent 55.7 40,088 54.5 680 37.8 23,738 
			 Applicant only 44.6 44,904 36.5 46 27.9 9,280 
			 Respondent only 59.7 2,707 56.2 2,575 44.7 3,573 
			 Neither applicant nor respondent 34.1 28,796 34.1 81 38.6 2,710 
			  Notes: Figures are given where the applicant/respondent's representative has been recorded or left blank. Therefore, it should be noted that parties without a recorded representative are not necessarily litigants in person.  Divorce: 1. Figures include dissolutions of marriage or civil partnership and annulments of marriage or civil partnership. 2. The duration is calculated from the earliest recorded petition date to the earliest recorded decree absolute date. 3. Figures exclude cases where there is no record of a petition and cases where the decree absolute date is before the petition 4. Time from petition to decree absolute may be affected by the time it takes the applicant to apply for the decree absolute once the decree nisi (first order) has been issued. In normal circumstances the applicant may apply for the decree absolute six weeks after the decree nisi has been issued, but (s)he may choose to wait longer than this.  5. The mean is the total of all of the durations, divided by the number of decrees absolute.  Public and Private Law: 1. Private law refers to cases brought under the Children Act 1989 where two or more individuals, usually separated parents, are trying to resolve a private dispute about their child(ren). Public law refers to child welfare cases where a local authority, or other authorised person, is stepping in to protect a child from harm or neglect. 2. Private law includes cases where a section 8 order (contact, residence, prohibited steps, specific issue) was made or where a parental responsibility order was made. Public law includes cases where a care order or a supervision order was made. This does not necessarily mean that these were the orders applied for. 3. The durations in both case types are calculated from the earliest application date (or the date the case was transferred in to the court if that is earlier) to the date of the order event. 4. A case is defined as applicant represented if at least one applicant in the case has a recorded representative. Similarly with respondents. 5. The mean is the total of all of the durations, divided by the number of orders.  Source: HMCS FamilyMan system

Fines

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice in what circumstances a fine imposed by a magistrates court may be written off.

Jonathan Djanogly: The magistrates courts follow a strict write off policy. The scenarios, which can be administratively cancelled, are:
	the defendant is known to have emigrated or gone abroad and there is very little real prospect of return or recovery of the sum;
	the defendant has died. However a claim against the estate can be made;
	the defendant has been sent to a mental health institution for a period of 12 months or more;
	the defendant was a limited company which has been wound up and there are no goods on which to levy distress, or a company has ceased trading and it is not considered financially worthwhile for the court to initiate winding-up proceedings;
	the sum outstanding is less than £10 and the cost of enforcement would be disproportionate to the amount outstanding; and
	where the defendant cannot be traced and the fine is over 12 months old and all reasonable steps have been taken to enforce, including the use of all the new intelligence sources without success.
	Writing off does not absolve the offender of their obligation to pay and should that person's whereabouts become known at a later date, further action would be taken.
	Legal cancellation can be applied after the case has been reconsidered by a judge or a magistrate. Typically, legal cancellations are used where a case has been reopened and the defendant has been found not guilty following the presentation of additional information. Legal cancellations can be full or partial remittances of financial penalties.

Homicide

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the Government plans to review the law on murder.

Crispin Blunt: The Law Commission reviewed the law on murder and made recommendations in their report 'Murder, Manslaughter and Infanticide' in 2006. Their recommendations have been implemented in part and the Government will be considering whether to take forward those which remain outstanding.

Human Rights

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the potential for legal challenge to the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 which do not define the Scottish Parliament as a legislature.

Jonathan Djanogly: The meaning of "legislature" in article 3 of the First Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights, as scheduled to the Human Rights Act 1998, is currently being considered by the European Court of Human Rights in a case against the United Kingdom. The Human Rights Act itself does not define "legislature" in this provision.

Human Rights: Care Homes

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will assess the merits of extending the scope of the term public authority in section 6(1) of the Human Rights Act 1998 to include private care homes that provide care to elderly people who have been  (a) referred and  (b) funded by a local authority.

Jonathan Djanogly: Such situations are already covered by the Human Rights Act. Under section 145 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, a care home that provides residential social care that has been arranged by a local authority under sections 21(l)(a) and 26 of the National Assistance Act 1948, or the equivalent provisions in Scotland and Northern Ireland, is deemed to be exercising a function of a public nature for the purposes of section 6 of the Human Rights Act. It is immaterial for these purposes the extent to which the local authority funds the care that it has arranged under its statutory obligations. Section 145 came into force on 1 December 2008, and applies to any acts (as defined by section 6 of the Human Rights Act) as of that date.

Human Trafficking: Compensation

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what compensation victims of human trafficking may receive from  (a) the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and  (b) assets seized from traffickers without adversely affecting their entitlement to benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: Victims of human trafficking are able to claim compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme for physical injury or psychological injuries. This ability to claim is not dependent upon prosecution of the perpetrator.
	In addition, prosecutors may request compensation following confiscation of assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The court has discretion to make both a compensation order and a confiscation order against the same person in the same proceedings if it believes that the defendant will have sufficient means to satisfy both orders in full. Alternatively, the court may order that all or part of the compensation order be paid out of the confiscation order.
	Neither of these compensation measures affects victims' entitlement to support services provided to victims during their recovery and reflection period.

Legal Aid

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on the use of funding provided through the civil legal aid scheme to bring cases against  (a) current and  (b) former members of the armed forces.

Jonathan Djanogly: Generally, legal aid in civil cases is available to anyone who qualifies, provided that the case is within the scope of the scheme. Each application is considered on an individual basis and is subject to statutory tests of the applicant's means and the merits of the case.
	The Ministry of Justice consultation "Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales" was published on 15 November. The consultation proposes that claims against public authorities should remain within the scope of the legal aid scheme where they concern: (i) abuse of position of power; and/or (ii) significant breach of human rights; and/or (iii) negligent acts or omissions falling very far below the required standard of care.

Legal Aid

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has assessed the potential effects of his proposed reforms to legal aid funding on the contract between Public Interest Lawyers and the Legal Service Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: Both impact assessments (IAs) and equalities impact assessments (EIAs) were published alongside the consultation paper. While the documents do consider impacts on providers both at the aggregate level (in the case of IAs) and by protected equalities characteristic (EIAs), neither document considers the impact on any one particular provider of publicly funded legal services, and particularly as the information is likely to be commercially sensitive.

Legal Aid: Expenditure

John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his Department's expenditure on legal aid in respect of  (a) family court cases and  (b) criminal cases involving residents of (i) Cumbria and (ii) Carlisle constituency was in each of the last three years.

Jonathan Djanogly: It is not possible to provide a regional breakdown of expenditure based upon the location of the recipient of legal aid. Legal aid expenditure and the value of claims submitted by legal service providers(1) located within Cumbria and Carlisle are set out in the following table, by area of law.
	Carlisle is a constituency area geographically located within the Cumbria criminal justice area and as such all the figures for Cumbria are inclusive of those for Carlisle.
	(1) The means by which some legal aid schemes are administered, such as legal help, for example, mean that it is only possible to identify the category of law from the claims submitted rather than the expenditure paid to those providers. Therefore, the figures in the table comprise a mixture of cash expenditure and the value of claims.
	
		
			  Spend in Carlisle and Cumbria by financial year 
			  £ 
			   Family  Criminal  Non-family 
			  2009-10
			 Carlisle 1,102,806 1,426,848 582,718 
			 Cumbria 3,497,768 4,983,281 1,626,479 
			 
			  2008-09
			 Carlisle 1,423,337 1,348,365 424,671 
			 Cumbria 4,225,565 4,735,964 1,069,431 
			 
			  2007-08
			 Carlisle 1,201,946 1,189,985 269,119 
			 Cumbria 3,331,919 4,476,051 1,036,030

Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will assess the likely effect on standards of employment practice of his proposals to discontinue legal aid in employment cases.

Jonathan Djanogly: I do not intend to conduct such an assessment.

Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the merits of restricting  (a) broadcast and  (b) other advertising by (i) lawyers and (ii) claims handling organisations.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has overall responsibility for the Codes that govern broadcast advertising and this is reflected in the Conduct Rules that apply respectively to lawyers and claims management businesses. We understand that the ASA is considering whether or not to undertake a review of advertising to take account of the recommendations made in Lord Young's report "Common Sense-Common Safety".
	Other advertising by lawyers would be a matter for the Solicitor's Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Legal Services Board (LSB) to consider. The SRA is currently consulting on a new Code of Conduct, and will be working with the LSB, the MoJ and other stakeholders to ensure that any changes support the effective provision of legal services.
	The Claims Management Regulator who is based within the MoJ is soon to consult on an amendment to the rules governing claims management businesses advertising. The first stage will be to bring forward measures to prohibit claims management businesses from offering and marketing advance cash payments, other financial rewards or gifts that might induce people to initiate claims with them. This will be followed by consideration of what further, wider changes are necessary in relation to claims management businesses advertising and marketing taking full account of the outcome of any review of advertising by the ASA and SRA.

Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many appeal cases relating to contracted out employment group claims have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals  (a) with legal representation,  (b) with legal representation funded through legal aid and  (c) without legal representation were upheld.

Jonathan Djanogly: The table provides a breakdown of:
	The number of appeal cases heard;
	The number of cases with legal representation that were successful; and
	The number of cases without legal representation that were successful.
	It is not possible to provide information on the number of cases that were funded through legal aid as that level of detail is not recorded.
	
		
			   214-COEG 
			   2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Total number of appeal cases heard i.e. were determined at hearing, (oral or paper) 3 3 1 
			 Number of appeal cases with representation where appeal successful(1) 0 0 0 
			 Number of appeals without representation where the appeal was successful 0 0 0 
			 (1) TS Immigration and Asylum cases, noted "publicly funded".

Powers of Attorney

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what recent estimate he has made of the average cost charged by a family solicitor for preparing a Lasting Power of Attorney application;
	(2)  what the average time taken was for the Court of Protection to  (a) process a Lasting Power of Attorney form and  (b) notify the applicant of the outcome in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many Lasting Power of Attorney applications were  (a) lodged with the Court of Protection and  (b) approved in the last two years.

Jonathan Djanogly: Lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) were introduced by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), which was commenced on 1 October 2007.
	The LPA forms were designed to be completed without the automatic need for professional advice. However, some applicants' circumstances may be such that they wish to take advice from a solicitor or other professional. Such private client work can be undertaken for a fixed fee or may be charged on the basis of actual time spent depending on how the firm involved chooses to charge for the work involved. As a result, the cost of using a solicitor can vary greatly and the Ministry of Justice has not made any estimate of average costs charged for this type of work.
	Under the MCA, LPAs are registered with the Office of the Public Guardian rather than the Court of Protection. In certain limited cases, where there are issues with the registration of an LPA, or objections are made by certain parties, an application may need to be made to the Court of Protection for determination of that matter before the OPG can register.
	Figures on the average time taken by the OPG to process an application in the current financial year are outlined in the following table. The timescales include a statutory six week waiting period during which objections to registration can be made.
	
		
			  2010  Weeks 
			 April 12 
			 May 14 
			 June 12 
			 July 11 
			 August 12 
			 September 13 
			 October 12 
			 November 11 
		
	
	84,050 LPA applications were received in the period 1 December 2008 to 30 November 2009 with 75,863 being successfully registered.
	159,328 LPA applications were received in the period 1 December 2009 to 30 November 2010 with 128,538 being successfully registered.

Prisoners' Release: Employment

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of prisoners released in each of the last three years are in employment.

Crispin Blunt: Information is not held on the current employment status of all prisoners released in the last three years. However, prisoners' employment status is recorded on discharge and this is used to measure the proportion who enter employment. Figures in relation to 2007-08 and 2008-09 are set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Percentage of offenders entering employment on discharge 
			 2007-08 27.0 
			 2008-09 26.0 
			  Notes: 1. 2007-08 was the first year for which employment outcomes were reported as a proportion of discharges. 2. Figures for 2009-10 will be published on the Ministry of Justice website shortly as part of an addendum to the 2009-10 NOMS annual report.  Data Sources and Quality: These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Heroin

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many heroin addicts were  (a) in prison and  (b) convicted of a criminal offence in each of the last three years.

Crispin Blunt: It is not known exactly how many heroin addicts were  (a) in prison, or were  (b) convicted of a criminal offence in each of the last three years, because data on heroin addiction is not routinely collected.
	Our best estimate of the scale of heroin misuse comes from a survey of 1,435 prisoners sentenced to between one month and four years in 2005 and 2006 which showed that approximately 30% had used heroin in the four weeks before custody. On average, these prisoners used heroin every day in the four weeks before custody, and around 80% felt that their heroin usage was out of control.
	The Department of Health also collects information on the number of clinical treatments for heroin addiction delivered in prisons. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the response given by the Minister of State, Department of Health, the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Paul Burstow) on 28 June 2010,  Official Report, column 404W, which gave these statistics.

Prisoners: Repatriation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many British prisoners detained in each foreign country were repatriated to UK prisons between 6 May 2010 and 6 December 2010.

Crispin Blunt: Between 6 May and 6 December 2010, 59 British nationals were repatriated from overseas to serve the remainder of their sentence in prisons in England and Wales. The following table indicates from which countries these prisoners were repatriated.
	
		
			  Country  Number of transfers 
			 Australia 1 
			 Belgium 1 
			 Brazil 1 
			 Costa Rica 1 
			 Cyprus 4 
			 France 3 
			 Germany 1 
			 Ghana 3 
			 Grenada 2 
			 Hong Kong 1 
			 Ireland 11 
			 Japan 1 
			 Norway 1 
			 Panama 1 
			 Portugal 1 
			 Slovakia 1 
			 Spain 11 
			 Sweden 2 
			 Thailand 1 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 5 
			 Turkey 2 
			 United States 4 
		
	
	The repatriation of prisoners from overseas to prisons in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for the relevant devolved Administration.

Prisoners: Sentencing

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many of those presently serving a custodial sentence were given a sentence of  (a) five years or less,  (b) four years or less,  (c) three years or less,  (d) two years or less and  (e) one year or less; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: The following table provides information on custodial sentences in prison establishments in England and Wales by sentence length band as at 30 September 2010.
	
		
			  Prison population as of 30 September 2010 for sentence lengths of less than five, four, three, two and one years 
			  Sentence length  Population 
			  Less than :  
			 five years 34,642 
			 four years 28,770 
			 three years 22,119 
			 two years 15,051 
			 one year 8,096 
			  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Shrewsbury Picket Dispute

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will order a public inquiry into the events leading up to and the imprisonment of participants of the 1972 Shrewsbury Picket dispute.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Secretary of State will not order a public inquiry into the events surrounding the 1972 Shrewsbury Picket dispute. He considers that this would be a disproportionate response as an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission remains an option for the majority of those involved.

Prisoners: Violence

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the level of violence on the prison estate  (a) directed at prison officers by prisoners and  (b) between prisoners; and what steps he is taking to reduce violence on the prison estate.

Crispin Blunt: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) records assaults by prisoners on all staff and on other prisoners. The numbers of recorded assaults by prisoners on staff and on other prisoners is as follows:
	
		
			   2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			 Prisoner on prisoner 10,892 11,530 12,018 12,834 12,147 
			 Prisoner on officer 3,101 3,131 2,890 2,789 2,645 
		
	
	NOMS is undertaking a wide-ranging review of its violence reduction strategy, including methods for identifying and managing violent prisoners, performance measures for assault reporting by prisons, and prosecutions through the courts of violent prisoners. The review will examine the individual approaches to violence management that have developed around the estate and will ensure that good practice is shared and built upon. The revised policy will be implemented in spring 2011.
	NOMS takes the safety of staff and prisoners very seriously and is committed to a robust approach on prosecuting the most serious of these offences. We are working with the Attorney-General's office and the Home Office to improve consistency in the involvement of the police and Crown Prosecution Service. All prisons have in place a violence reduction policy which is used to identify the problems specific to that establishment and to develop practical solutions to managing violence.
	NOMS and the Prison Officers' Association (POA) are jointly committed to a zero tolerance approach to assaults on staff, visitors and prisoners. This has recently been formalised in a joint statement, signed by the national chairman of the POA and the chief executive of NOMS. A poster campaign advertising the zero tolerance approach was launched in February 2010.

Prisons: Smoking

Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many prisons in the north-east are smoke-free;
	(2)  whether any prison in the north-east has a smoke-free wing.

Crispin Blunt: None of the prisons in the north-east area are smoke-free.
	One unit at Acklington is designated for non-smoking prisoners. One houseblock at Holme House is smoke-free. The healthcare centres at HMP Durham and Low Newton are residential smoke-free areas and at Deerbolt, the intention is for the healthcare centre to go smoke-free in the new year.

Prisons: Smoking

Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps are being taken to ensure that individual prisons are smoke-free.

Crispin Blunt: Prisoners are permitted to smoke in their cells or rooms, and where prisoners share a cell or room arrangements are in place for smokers only to share with other smokers. Smoking is forbidden in all communal areas. Currently we do not consider it reasonable to prevent prisoners from smoking at all during their sentence.

Ranby Prison: Bassetlaw

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners convicted of each category of offence  (a) detained in Ranby prison and  (b) normally resident in Bassetlaw constituency have served their sentence but not been released.

Crispin Blunt: Prisoners who have served a sentence of imprisonment can be held beyond their release date in limited circumstances, such as:
	(i) Foreign national prisoners that are being held solely under immigration powers (immigration detainees) and
	(ii) Prisoners remanded in custody pending further charges.
	In respect of (i), as at 29 November 2010, there were five immigration detainees held at HMP Ranby. Their offence groups consisted of rape (1), production of drugs (3) and conspiracy to produce drugs (1).
	There were, however, no immigration detainees held in any prison, including HMP Ranby, with a recorded residential address or proxy, described as follows, in the Bassetlaw constituency area.
	In respect of (ii), as at 29 November 2010, there were no prisoners held in HMP Ranby who have been remanded in custody pending further charges.
	Identifying the number and offences of prisoners from the Bassetlaw constituency area held in all prisons beyond their release date pending further charges could be obtained only at disproportionate cost as it would first involve inspection of individual records of all remand prisoners to identify those being held following their discharge from a sentence of imprisonment.
	Information on a prisoner's residence is provided by prisoners on reception into prison and recorded on a central IT system. Addresses include a prisoner's home address, an address to which they intend to return on discharge and next of kin. To analyse the population as a whole, if no address is given, a prisoner's committal court address is used as a proxy to determine the area in which a prisoner is resident.

Remand In Custody: Young People

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) remands in custody for under 18 year-olds and  (b) court-ordered secure remands were for a period of seven days or fewer between April 2009 and March 2010.

Crispin Blunt: The following table shows the number of custodial remand episodes ending with a period of seven days or fewer for  (a) remands in custody for under 18-year-olds and  (b) court-ordered secure remands for 2008-09. The 2009-10 data will be available when the Youth Justice Board Annual Workload Statistics are released in January 2011.
	An episode refers to a period a young person has spent in custody and it is possible that one young person can start or finish more than one custodial episode at different points of each year for different offences or for changes in legal basis for detention, such as remand to sentence.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and may be subject to change over time.
	
		
			  2008-09 
			   Custodial episodes ended with a duration of seven days or fewer  
			   Number  Percentage  Custodial episodes ended 
			 Remand to custody 1,190 27 4,444 
			 Court-ordered secure remands 157 22 711

Remand In Custody: Young People

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of children remanded in custody were looked-after in the most recent 12 month period for which information is available.

Crispin Blunt: Information on the number of children in custody in England and Wales who had previously been looked after is not held centrally. However, a joint Youth Justice Board and HM Inspectorate of Prisons report 'Children and Young People in Custody 2008-2009', published on 9 December 2009, reported on a survey of every under-18 prison establishment in England and Wales. Responses to the survey indicated that a quarter of young men and nearly half of young women had been in care at some point.

Reoffenders

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the reconviction rate was for those who received  (a) sentences of 12 months or less and  (b) sentences to carry out unpaid work for a first offence in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: The information requested is as follows:
	Table 1 shows the number and one year re-conviction rate of adult offenders with no previous offences who were discharged from a custodial sentence of less than 12 months between January and March of the last 5 years.
	Table 2 shows the number and one year re-conviction rate of adult offenders with no previous offences who commenced a court order under probation supervision with a stand alone unpaid work requirement between January and March of the last three years. Figures for this breakdown are only available from 2006 following the introduction of community orders and suspended sentence orders in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 which came into force in April 2005.
	
		
			  Table 1: Re-conviction rate of adult offenders with no previous offences discharged from a custodial sentence of less than 12 months 
			   Number of offenders  Proportion of re-offenders convicted (%) 
			 2004 525 7.4 
			 2005 515 8.7 
			 2006 509 9.2 
			 2007 382 8.4 
			 2008 541 6.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Re-conviction rate of adult offenders with no previous offences who commenced a court order under probation supervision with a stand alone unpaid work requirement 
			   Number of offenders  Proportion of offenders re-convicted (%) 
			 2006 2,269 7.8 
			 2007 2,653 8.6 
			 2008 2,570 7.2 
		
	
	Re-conviction rates provided here should not be compared to assess the effectiveness of sentences, as there is no control for known differences in offender characteristics.
	More information on the reoffending rates is available from the Ministry of Justice website.
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffendingofadults.htm

Reoffenders

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what proportion of prisoners released in each of the last three years have re-offended;
	(2)  what proportion of those serving a community sentence have re-offended in each of the last three years.

Crispin Blunt: The following table shows the one year re-conviction rate of adult offenders who were released from custody or who commenced a court order (court orders include pre-CJA 2003 community sentences, new community orders and suspended sentence orders) in the first quarter of each of the last three years that data is available for.
	
		
			  One year re-conviction rate for offenders released from custody or who commenced a court order in the first quarter of each of the last three years 
			Proportion of offenders who are re-convicted in a one year follow up period 
			Custody  Court orders 
			 2006 Q1 46.5 35.4 
			 2007 Q1 47.2 36.1 
			 2008 Q1 49.4 36.1 
		
	
	Re-conviction rates provided here should not be compared to assess the effectiveness of sentences, as there is no control for known differences in offender characteristics. However, work has been carried out to compare like for like offenders which enable a reliable comparison of proven reoffending rates between offenders receiving short custodial sentences and offenders commencing a court order under probation supervision. The results show a 7 percentage points lower reoffending rate for offenders commencing a court order under probation supervision. Further information on this work can be found in paper 1.1 of the Compendium of Reoffending Statistics and Analysis available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/compendium-reoffending.htm
	Further information on adult reoffending is available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffendingofadults.htm

Tribunal Service: Social Security Benefits

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average length of waiting time is for a Tribunal Service hearing for those appealing benefits claims.

Jonathan Djanogly: The average national waiting time for those appealing benefit claims to the Tribunals Service is 17.7 weeks from receipt to promulgation.
	 Source:
	Quarterly Statistics for the Tribunals Service, first quarter 2010-11
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/quart-stats-tribunals.htm
	and GAPS 2 reports

Young Offenders: Sentencing

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance his Department issues on the balance between penalty and rehabilitation in the sentencing of  (a) first-time,  (b) repeat and  (c) violent youth offenders.

Crispin Blunt: Guidance on sentencing is provided by the Sentencing Council independently of Government. A sentencing guideline 'Over-arching Principles for Sentencing of Youths' was published on 20 November 2009 by the Sentencing Guidelines Council, the predecessor of the Sentencing Council.
	The Government set out in legislation the sentencing framework and principles for sentencers to follow. Sentencers are required to have regard to the principal aim of youth justice, which is the prevention of offending by children and young people and to have regard to their welfare when sentencing any person aged under 18 years.
	Most first time young offenders will receive an out of court disposal, if the offence is not serious. These can include restorative or reparative conditions.
	Under the sentencing framework courts are required to impose a referral order for persons aged under 18 years who are appearing in court for the first time and plead guilty. The referral order is based on restorative justice principles and must include reparative and rehabilitative elements.
	Repeat offenders may receive a youth rehabilitation order which has a range of both punitive and rehabilitative requirements that may be attached to the order as the court sees fit.
	Custody is available for the most serious and violent offenders from whom the public must be protected. Custody is also available for persistent offenders where their offending is considered to be serious enough to warrant custody.

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Security

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet commercial pilots to discuss airline security and security searches for pilots.

Theresa Villiers: I met pilot representatives as part of a delegation from the Trade Union Congress on 16 November. A representative from BALPA was also present at the National Aviation Security Committee meeting on 30 November, which I chaired.
	The Department for Transport has ongoing dialogue with industry partners to ensure that security measures are commensurate with the existing threat.

Bicycles: Safety

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to require the use of bells or other audible devices on bicycles; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: Although there are no requirements to have or use a bell on a bicycle while it is in use, bells must by law be supplied with all new bicycles at the point of sale. In addition, rule 66 of the Highway Code recommends the fitting and use of cycle bells. Failure to observe any of the code's provisions may be used in evidence at legal proceedings.
	We have no proposals for further legislation aimed at forcing cyclists to use a bell or other audible device.

Biofuels

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of price fluctuations in renewable transport fuel certificates on market stability for biodiesel producers.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport itself has made no direct assessment of the effects of price fluctuations on market stability for biodiesel producers.
	However, the Renewable Fuels Agency is required to report annually to Parliament on the effects of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). The report on the year 2009-10 of the RFTO is due in January 2011. This report is expected to include data on trading of RTFCs and some assessment of the impacts of the RFTO on biofuel producers.

Biofuels: Cooking Oil

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government are taking to provide incentives for the use of used cooking oil as a transport biofuel.

Norman Baker: Under the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO), suppliers of fossil fuel for transport are required to ensure that a proportion of the fuel they supply is obtained from renewable sources. In both 2008-09 and 2009-10, the first two years of the scheme, approximately three per cent of the biofuel supplied was from recycled used cooking oil (UCO).
	The rate of excise duty for biodiesel produced from UCO is 20 pence per litre less than the rate of duty for ultra low sulphur diesel. This 20 pence tax differential was introduced on 1 April 2010 and is set to run for a period of two years.
	We are currently working to amend the RTFO to fulfil the requirements of the European Renewable Energy Directive (RED). The RED provides additional support for biofuels from waste, including UCO, by double counting the contribution they make towards national targets.

Blue Badge Scheme

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will amend the blue badge scheme to establish a fast-track application process for the issue of badges to those receiving urgent medical attention.

Norman Baker: Local authorities are responsible for the administration of the blue badge scheme and for ensuring that only residents satisfying one or more of the eligibility criteria prescribed in legislation are issued with a badge. The application processes adopted are for them to decide.
	The Department for Transport's guidance states that local authorities may wish to consider having a fast-track application process for people who have a terminal illness that seriously limits their mobility, to make the final weeks of their life easier. However, there are no plans to require local authorities to establish a fast-track process for those receiving urgent medical attention.

Bridges: Tolls

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed increases in user tolls on the Severn Crossings on the date on which the debt incurred by the crossing concessionaire will be repaid.

Michael Penning: No decisions have been made regarding the future toll levels at the crossings once the concession expires.

Bridges: Tolls

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the likely effects on usage of the  (a) Severn Crossing and  (b) Dartford Crossing of proposed increases in user tolls in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period.

Michael Penning: Under the terms of the concession agreement the new rates are introduced on 1 January each year and increased in line with the retail price index (RPI).
	The annual tolls cannot be set below the level of RPI increase without the concessionaire's agreement during the concession period.
	In respect of the Dartford Crossing, the details of the proposed revised charging regime, including an assessment of its impacts on usage and economic effects, will be set out for public consultation.
	The Department intends to begin the necessary consultation on such proposals around the end of 2010.

Departmental Conferences

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken since his appointment to reduce expenditure on conferences from budgets within his responsibility.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport undertook a major review of all of its budgets for discretionary expenditure during May and June 2010, following the reduction in the Department's budget announced in May 2010. Although no specific target was set to reduce expenditure on conferences, the review covered all categories of administrative expenditure including hospitality, training, marketing and communications.
	The review process included a series of meetings with all senior budget managers in the departmental family to determine the scope for reductions and was supported by a number of messages from the permanent secretary to all staff on the need to bear down on non-essential expenditure.

Departmental Travel

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what cost-benefit analysis his Department has undertaken of the provision of  (a) first and  (b) standard class rail travel for its senior civil servants when travelling by rail in an official capacity on journeys of one hour or more; and whether he has assessed the type of work which such officials can undertake in each class of travel.

Norman Baker: No cost benefit analysis has been undertaken by the Department for Transport of the provision of first and standard class rail travel for its senior civil servants when travelling for official purposes, or the type of work which can be undertaken in each class of travel.
	Senior civil servants are permitted to travel first class depending on business need and whether the additional expenditure is justified. Earlier this year the Department issued guidance to staff about reducing travel costs. Staff should use the cheapest means possible when travelling. If travelling by rail, standard class should be used unless, exceptionally, first class is cheaper. Rail tickets should also be bought in advance where possible to achieve the best deals.
	Further reminders were issued emphasising the importance of information security when work is undertaken in public places, including when travelling by rail.

Driving Tests

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people failed a driving  (a) theory and  (b) practical test in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Leicestershire and (iii) Leicester East constituency in each of the last five years.

Michael Penning: The number of people who failed their practical driving test at test centres located in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Leicestershire and (iii) Leicester East constituency in each of the last five years are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   England and Wales  Leicestershire ( 1) Leicester East 
			  2005-06
			 Motorcycle 19,382 203 201 
			 Car 542,593 10,610 3,019 
			 Lorry 24,182 468 n/a 
			 Bus 3,324 55 n/a 
			 
			  2006-07
			 Motorcycle 17,998 167 167 
			 Car 521,933 10,044 2,934 
			 Lorry 20,865 395 n/a 
			 Bus 2,738 44 n/a 
			 
			  2007-08
			 Motorcycle 19,771 179 179 
			 Car 521,671 10,625 2,866 
			 Lorry 19,418 350 n/a 
			 Bus 2,644 51 n/a 
			 
			  2008-09
			 Motorcycle 24,131 266 159 
			 Car 505,246 10,326 2,664 
			 Lorry 17,626 349 n/a 
			 Bus 2,633 49 n/a 
			 
			  2009-10
			 Motorcycle 2,395 36 0 
			 Motorcycle module 1 12,905 270 n/a 
			 Motorcycle module 2 7,817 144 n/a 
			 Car 457,770 8,668 1,911 
			 Lorry 12,515 257 n/a 
			 Bus 2,507 50 n/a 
			 (1) Leicester (Gypsy Lane ) DTC is the only test centre in the Leicester East constituency. 
		
	
	The requested theory test data can be provided only at disproportionate cost. The overall number of failed theory tests is shown in the following table:
	All information is based on the location of test centres where the tests were taken, not where the candidates live.
	
		
			  Category  England and Wales  Leicestershire( 1) 
			   Number test failed  Total number test conducted  Fail rate (percentage)  Number test failed  Total number test conducted  Fail rate (percentage) 
			  2009-10   
			 Car 443,549 1,220,897 36.33 8,581 22,438 38.24 
			 Motorcycle 9,645 50,408 19.13 136 730 18.63 
			 Lorry-MC 4,693 23,031 20.38 76 377 20.16 
			 Lorry-HPT 4,178 22,864 18.27 89 403 22.08 
			 Bus-MC 1,469 6,804 21.59 15 83 18.07 
			 Bus-HPT 1,256 6,678 18.81 24 92 26.09 
			
			  2008-09   
			 Car 413,983 1,190,581 34.77 8,020 21,613 37.11 
			 Motorcycle 19,337 95,048 20.34 276 1,288 21.43 
			 Lorry 3,694 13,218 27.95 92 323 28.48 
			 Lorry-MC 3,953 18,764 21.07 80 343 23.32 
			 Lorry-HPT 3,285 18,539 17.72 56 325 17.23 
			 Bus 1,074 3,480 30.86 14 57 24.56 
			 Bus-MC 957 4,188 22.85 7 43 16.28 
			 Bus-HPT 815 4,212 19.35 14 53 26.42 
			
			  2007-08   
			 Car 467,571 1,343,710 34.80 10,122 25,996 38.94 
			 Motorcycle 19,089 86,892 21.97 241 1,110 21.71 
			 Lorry 10,200 37,298 27.35 226 757 29.85 
			 Bus 2,562 8,247 31.07 41 94 43.62 
			
			  2006-07   
			 Car 393,711 1,206,904 32.62 8,301 22,568 36.78 
			 Motorcycle 11,098 66,401 16.71 144 829 17.37 
			 Lorry 9,429 37,389 25.22 189 756 25.00 
			 Bus 2,457 8,025 30.62 38 93 40.86 
			
			  2005-06   
			 Car 357,756 1,181,636 30.28 7,561 22,061 34.27 
			 Motorcycle 7,101 64,587 10.99 108 918 11.76 
			 Lorry 9,847 41,309 23.84 261 823 31.71 
			 Bus 2,677 8,739 30.63 32 93 34.41 
			 (1 )There is one theory test centre in Leicestershire; this is based in the Leicestershire South constituency.  Note: Data for multiple choice and hazard perception sections of the lorry and bus tests was uncoupled in August 2008.

Driving Tests: Administration

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average time taken between the  (a) initial application and  (b) sitting of a driving (i) practical and (ii) theory test in (A) England and Wales, (B) Leicestershire and (C) Leicester East constituency was in each of the last five years.

Michael Penning: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) measures waiting times for practical tests for Great Britain. The average waiting times in weeks for each of the last five years are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Weeks 
			   Car  Motorcycle  Lorry, bus and car with large trailer 
			 2005-06 6.0 3.9 4.5 
			 2006-07 5.5 3.5 3.3 
			 2007-08 6.4 3.7 3.2 
			 2008-09 6.1 4.7 2.2 
			 2009-10 6.6 2.5 2.4 
		
	
	For each individual test centre, DSA measures appointment availability, which reflects the first week where 10% of appointments are available to be booked. The following table shows the annual average appointment availability for each of the test centres in Leicestershire and the Leicester East constituency, in each of the last five years:
	
		
			  Driving Test Centre (DTC)  Test Category  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Hinckley(1) Car 6 7 8 7 8 
			  Motorcycle 5 3 4 1 n/a 
			
			 Leicester (Gipsy Lane)(2) Car 7 8 8 6 7 
			 Leicester (Welford Road) Car 8 8 9 8 9 
			
			 Leicester Wigston Car 8 10 7 4 n/a 
			  Motorcycle - - 3 4 n/a 
			
			 Wigston MPTC(3) Car - - 3 7 9 
			  M1 Motorcycle - - 1 2 5 
			  M2 Motorcycle - - 1 1 2 
			
			 Leicester LGV Voc 5 5 4 2 2 
			 Loughborough Car 6 7 7 6 7 
			 Melton Mowbray Car 6 7 7 6 6 
			 (1) Motorcycling tests at Hinckley DTC were relocated to Wigston MPTC in 2009 (2) Leicester (Gipsy Lane) is the only test centre in Leicester East constituency (3) Leicester Wigston MPTC opened in 2009 
		
	
	DSA aims to give 95% of theory test candidates an appointment at their preferred test centre within two weeks of their preferred date. This is measured nationally (England, Scotland and Wales) and performance for each of the last five years is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Preferred date (waiting time) (percentage) 
			 2005-06 98.42 
			 2006-07 98.92 
			 2007-08 98.53 
			 2008-09 98.83 
			 2009-10 98.31

Driving Tests: Motorcycles

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress his Department has made in its motorcycle riding licence and testing review; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: We are making good progress working with stakeholders on reviewing the motorcycle test and I intend to make a statement shortly.

Fisheries

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had recent discussions with his EU counterparts on days at sea restrictions for fishermen.

Michael Penning: No. This is a matter for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which is the lead Department on enforcement of the "days at sea" regime under the EU's cod recovery plan.

Fuels: Imports

Therese Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which harbour authorities currently hold licences for the transfer of oil via ship to ship transfers.

Michael Penning: No oil transfer licences have been issued to harbour authorities so far, because the relevant legislation has not yet come into force.

International Civil Aviation Organization: Taiwan

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had on progress towards Taiwan's participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: Department for Transport officials and the UK Permanent Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) have received a number of representations from officials from Taiwan, on the issue of Taiwan's participation in ICAO. We and the EU encourage China and Taiwan to pursue pragmatic solutions to questions regarding the position of Taiwan with regard to specialised multilateral forums, including ICAO, especially where Taiwan's practical participation is important to EU and global interests.

London-South Wales Railway Line: Electrification

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to announce his proposals for the electrification of the London to South Wales rail line.

Theresa Villiers: The Government will be in a position to make an announcement on further electrification of the Great Western Main Line in the new year, once the review of the Intercity Express programme is complete.

Parking: Roads

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the increased use of no parking zones on main roads as part of his Department's review of the response to cold weather conditions.

Norman Baker: holding answer 9 December 2010
	The independent Winter Resilience Review recommended that every local highway authority have a robust winter service plan, and that this be consulted on and regularly reviewed in line with current best practice. It is for local highway authorities to decide on the nature and location of any parking restrictions in relation to the implementation of their winter plans.

Railways

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 7 December 2010,  Official Report, columns 15-18WS, on the Rail Industry Review, what  (a) passenger and  (b) trade union representation there will be on the high level working group to examine options for structural reform in the rail industry;
	(2)  which industry bodies will be represented on the high level working group to examine options for structural reform in the rail industry.

Theresa Villiers: No decisions on the composition of the Secretary of State's group, or the way in which industry and passenger interests will contribute to its work, have yet been taken. A further announcement about arrangements will be made shortly.

Railways: Franchises

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements are in place for the removal of rail franchises where rail passengers are dissatisfied with the service provided by their local rail operators; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: Current franchise agreements include obligations for train operators to provide an acceptable benchmark level of service around train delays, cancellations and capacity. Continued failure to deliver these obligations can result in contract termination.
	No similar obligation exists for passenger satisfaction, although the recent South Central contract includes obligations relating to passenger views on stations, trains and customer services where the operator is required to invest additional sums where targets are not met.
	As part of our rail franchising reforms we are assessing how greater account of overall service quality, including passenger satisfaction, could be included within the contract.

Railways: Passengers

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to provide a statutory definition of overcrowding on rail passenger services; and if he will require train operating companies to take steps to reduce overcrowding on their services.

Theresa Villiers: There is an agreed rail industry measure for crowding which is used by train operators and the Department for monitoring purposes. We have no current plans to introduce a statutory definition of crowding. Franchise agreements generally include a requirement that train operators minimise crowding within the constraints of available rolling stock and relevant infrastructure. As part of our franchising reform, we are considering what additional or amended duties could be placed on train operators in relation to crowding.

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with the  (a) Chancellor of the Exchequer and  (b) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the forthcoming reform of the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation.

Norman Baker: I have corresponded with the Economic Secretary regarding possible amendments to the renewable transport fuels obligation (RTFO) to meet the requirements of the renewable energy and fuel quality directives.
	Department for Transport officials hold regular meetings with officials in both the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Her Majesty's Treasury to discuss all aspects of biofuel policy, including the future of the RTFO.

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has set a timetable for future review of the renewable transport fuels obligation.

Norman Baker: The European renewable energy directive (RED) requires member states to source 10% of transport energy from renewable sources by 2020. We are currently considering options for achieving this target in the UK, and will consult shortly on proposals to amend the RTFO to meet the requirements of the RED.
	The RED contains a requirement that the European Commission undertake a wide-ranging review of the directive by 31 December 2014 and propose amendments if appropriate. Any such proposal may lead to further revisions of the RTFO.

Roads: Accidents

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2010,  Official Report, column 920W, if he will estimate the average number of  (a) fatalities,  (b) injuries and  (c) personal injury road accidents per mile of the A1307 between the A143 Wratting Road, Haverhill junction and the A603 Lensfield Road, Cambridge junction in each year since 1996.

Michael Penning: The estimated rate of  (a) fatalities,  (b) injuries and  (c) personal injury road accidents per mile on the 18 mile stretch of road on the A1307 between the A143 Wratting Road Haverhill junction and the A603 Lensfield Road Cambridge junction in each year since 1996 is given in the following table:
	rate per mile
	
		
			   Fatalities  Injuries( 1)  Accidents 
			 1996 0.17 5.06 3.28 
			 1997 0.06 6.22 3.61 
			 1998 0.11 5.61 3.11 
			 1999 0.28 6.61 3.89 
			 2000 0.06 5.83 3.67 
			 2001 0.06 5.72 3.61 
			 2002 0.22 5.00 3.22 
			 2003 0.17 5.83 4.39 
			 2004 0.06 7.00 4.44 
			 2005 0.06 6.39 3.67 
			 2006 0.17 6.33 3.89 
			 2007 0.17 5.11 3.39 
			 2008 0.33 5.72 4.11 
			 2009 0.06 3.50 2.50 
			 (1) Serious and slight injuries

Roads: Snow and Ice

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the amount spent by the Highways Agency on  (a) grit,  (b) salt and  (c) potash from (i) domestic and (ii) overseas producers in each of the last five years.

Michael Penning: Grit and potash are not used for routine winter service on Highways Agency roads, generally referred to as the strategic road network.
	The Highways Agency's routine and winter service is delivered by its contracted service providers. The delivery of these services, including the purchase and application of salt, is paid for within lump sum payments covering a range of defined activities. The amount spent on the purchase of salt is not readily discernable from the service delivery lump sum payments and cannot therefore be provided.
	Annual salt usage for the strategic road network varies greatly according to the weather experienced, typically ranging from 150,000 to 300,000 tonnes/annum, at an average cost of salt from domestic suppliers of approximately £25/tonne.
	The 2009-10 winter season was the first time that significant supplies had been purchased from overseas suppliers. Detailed usage and cost information for each year is not available for the same reasons given for the purchase of salt from domestic suppliers.

Thameslink

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the first cascaded rolling stock from Thameslink services to be in use by rail operating companies in Greater Manchester.

Theresa Villiers: Negotiations are continuing with the two remaining companies bidding to build and maintain a new fleet of trains for the Thameslink programme. It is expected that an order will be placed in autumn 2011 with the first train expected to enter passenger service in early 2015.
	Existing trains will then be released for cascade to operate other services including in the North West of England.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Beachley Barrage

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make it his policy to implement Beachley barrage only.

Charles Hendry: The main conclusion from the Severn Tidal Power feasibility study, published on 18 October, was that the Government do not see a strategic case to bring forward a Severn Tidal Power scheme in the immediate term-see:
	www.decc.gov.uk/severntidalpower
	Another conclusion of the study was that the Beachley barrage is no longer considered feasible. The estimated cost of this option has risen substantially upon investigation over the course of the study, and its expected benefits (e.g. in terms of less environmental impact) are less than first supposed.

Departmental Billing

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many invoices his Department processed in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Gregory Barker: The Department has processed 9,246 invoices payable, and 393 invoices receivable in the 12 month period from 1 December 2009 to 30 November 2010.

Departmental Travel

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on grey fleet in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change was created on 3 October 2008.
	 (a) From 3 October 2008 to 31 March 2009 the Department spent £14,474.24 on employee claims for mileage allowance.
	 (b) In 2009-10 the Department spent £17,783.40.

European Commission's European Sustainable Nuclear Industrial Initiative Implementation Plan

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what contribution his Department made to the European Commission's European Sustainable Nuclear Industrial Initiative Implementation Plan.

Charles Hendry: The EU's Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan is a key element of Europe's plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and for its move towards a sustainable, low carbon future. The European Sustainable Nuclear Industrial Initiative's prime objective is to develop a nuclear technology which will make the use of nuclear energy more sustainable, through more efficient use of uranium resources through recycling of plutonium, by the reduction of the radiotoxicity and reduction of the potential impact of the ultimate radioactive waste.
	The Department has arranged for UK organisations, including the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), to contribute to the development of the Nuclear Industrial Initiative and to share UK knowledge and expertise as part of our active involvement in the EU's Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan. The NNL, with its wide range of nuclear skills and expertise, is well placed to represent both Government and wider UK nuclear industry interests and to identify potential opportunities as they arise.

Green Climate Fund

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2010,  Official Report, column 43, on climate change: developing countries, when he expects the Green Climate Fund to be  (a) designed and  (b) operational.

Charles Hendry: The UK aims for the Green Climate Fund's design process to begin following agreement to do so in Cancun, recognising that this will require a COP decision agreed by all parties. We hope then for the design process to make recommendations to COP17 at the end of 2011, which would include the timetable for the fund to become operational. The UK wants the fund to be well-designed and to become operational as quickly as practicable.

Mining: Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many former miners receive  (a) concessionary coal and  (b) payments in lieu of concessionary coal in Bassetlaw constituency.

Charles Hendry: There are currently a total of 3,598 concessionaires in the Bassetlaw constituency (based on beneficiaries' addresses in post codes DN10, DNl1, DN22, S80, S81 and NG20) in receipt of either concessionary fuel or cash in lieu under the terms of the National Concessionary Fuel Scheme (NCFS) broken down as follows:
	805 in receipt of concessionary fuel;
	2,793 in receipt of cash in lieu.

Nuclear Power: Research

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effects of the carbon reduction commitment on nuclear fusion energy research;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects of using a single year baseline to calculate the carbon reduction commitment on nuclear fusion energy research.

Charles Hendry: The Government have made no assessment of the effects of the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme, or using a single year baseline in the scheme, on nuclear fusion energy research. The purposes of the CRC scheme is to drive improvements in energy efficiency among large energy users. Government have not assessed the opportunities for energy efficiency savings in individual sub-sectors or organisations. A single baseline year was chosen in order to minimise administrative burden and to maintain simplicity and fairness through a common starting point for all organisations.

Renewable Energy

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to reduce the administrative burden on those establishing community renewable energy projects.

Charles Hendry: My officials continue to engage with community groups and other organisations to identify any unnecessary administrative burdens associated with establishing a renewable energy project and to assess how they can be reduced.
	The Environment Agency, for example, have been streamlining the permitting process for small hydro schemes, including a simplified application form and a named contact within the local area team.
	The Department has also launched Community Energy Online, a web portal, to bring best practice and the best expertise to each community through the internet.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what mechanism he plans to use to determine the technologies which are most cost-effective when refocusing feed-in-tariffs in 2014-15.

Charles Hendry: The first formal review of FITs will be the mechanism for determining how the efficiency of FITs can be improved to save £40 million in 2014-15. This will include consideration of the relative cost effectiveness of different technologies in helping to meet our challenging carbon reduction and renewable energy generation targets.

Renewable Energy: Heating

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what tariffs per kilowatt hour he proposes to be paid under the Renewable Heat Incentive.

Charles Hendry: We expect to be in a position to announce the details of the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme, including RHI tariffs and technologies supported shortly, and be open for business in 2011.

Renewable Energy: Heating

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change from what date renewable energy installations will be required to be commissioned in order to qualify for the Renewable Heat Incentive.

Charles Hendry: We expect to be in a position to announce the details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria for the installation commissioning date shortly, and be open for business from 2011.

River Severn: Tidal Power

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make an assessment of the merits of establishing the Severn Barrage Tidal Energy Scheme in 2015.

Charles Hendry: As part of the Government's announcement on the conclusions of the Severn Tidal Power feasibility study on 18 October, we said that it is not expected that a review will take place before 2015 at the earliest.
	The timing of any review will depend on a number of factors, such as increased cost of alternative technologies or new national or international targets for renewable energy or security of supply are proposed. The Severn study report set out a list of potential triggers.
	The outcome of the feasibility study does not preclude a privately financed scheme coming forward and my officials will liaise with such private sector consortiums about their ideas.

Shafag-Asiman Gas Field

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent reports he has received on the production sharing agreement on exploration and production rights in respect of the Shafag-Asiman gas field in Azerbaijan; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: On 7 October 2010, BP and SOCAR, the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan, announced that they had signed a new Production Sharing Agreement on the joint exploration and development of the Shafag-Asiman structure in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian sea. Under the agreement, which is for 30 years, BP Exploration (Azerbaijan) Limited will be the operator with 50% interest, while SOCAR will hold the remaining 50%.

Sheffield Forgemasters

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has received on Sheffield Forgemasters since May 2010.

Charles Hendry: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly receives representations on a wide variety of issues including this.
	We have received letters from 12 private individuals and one private company on this issue. However, this does not include representations where Sheffield Forgemasters might have been just one of the issues raised in a letter. To search all the correspondence that might contain a representation on Sheffield Forgemasters would incur disproportionate cost.
	We are aware of the concern expressed by parts of the industry regarding withdrawal of this conditional loan but the withdrawal of the loan is no reflection on the company, the project, its management or staff or of our commitment to taking forward the facilitative actions to remove unnecessary barriers to new nuclear in the UK. In these difficult times, tough decisions have had to be made across Government. This was just such a decision.

Sheffield Forgemasters

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has had discussions with Ministerial colleagues on nuclear industry issues in relation to Sheffield Forgemasters since May 2010.

Charles Hendry: Nuclear industry issues in relation to Sheffield Forgemasters were discussed with ministerial colleagues prior to the collective Government decision to not proceed with the loan to the company on grounds of affordability.
	The withdrawal of the loan is no reflection on the company, the project, its management or staff or of our commitment to taking forward the facilitative actions to remove unnecessary barriers to new nuclear in the UK. In these difficult times, tough decisions have had to be made across Government. This was just such a decision.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Badgers: Bovine Tuberculosis

Gordon Birtwistle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made on the development of a bovine TB vaccination for badgers.

James Paice: holding answer 8 December 2010
	Since 1999 DEFRA has invested over £11 million on research into badger vaccines. The first injectable badger vaccine was licensed in March 2010 and is available for use on prescription. It is being used in the Government funded badger vaccine deployment project, which began in July 2010, in an area in Gloucestershire.
	The badger vaccines research programme is now focused on the development of an oral vaccine, as this is likely to be the most practical application of a vaccine to a wild population. The earliest projected date for a licensed oral badger vaccine is 2015.
	We also aim to have a licensed BCG cattle vaccine and a validated differential diagnostic test by the end of 2012. However, due to the need to change EU legislation before cattle can be vaccinated for TB, we anticipate that a cattle vaccine could not be used in the field before 2015 at the earliest.

Biodiversity

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department plans to provide for the protection of biodiversity and the natural environment overseas in the spending review period; and  (a) through what departments and  (b) by what means that funding will be disbursed.

Richard Benyon: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced at the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya that, following the spending review, DEFRA would be committing £100 million to be spent on forests in support of the REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation in developing countries) initiative, which will help to deliver biodiversity objectives.
	The Darwin Initiative grant programme will continue to fund biodiversity projects in developing countries and UK Overseas Territories over the spending review period and the UK will not only sustain the existing level of funding, but increase it over this period. The fund will continue to be administered by DEFRA.

Biodiversity

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the level of her Department's funding for the Darwin Initiative in the spending review period.

Richard Benyon: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced at the recent meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan, that the Government will not only sustain the existing level of funding for the Darwin Initiative, but now plans to increase it over the next four years. This will enable the initiative to carry out even more of its excellent work to deliver biodiversity and sustainable development objectives.

Biodiversity

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the role of her Department in supporting the protection of biodiversity overseas through the UK's diplomatic network.

Richard Benyon: Ministers have discussed the outcomes of the Convention on Biological Diversity meeting in Nagoya and how to take them forward, particularly on biodiversity, development and climate mitigation and adaptation, and in the context of wider international engagement.
	With regards to the UK Overseas Territories I attended the recent meeting of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council with the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North West Norfolk (Mr Bellingham). Moreover, DEFRA and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have been working closely together on the Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy, the Overseas Territories Environment Programme and the Darwin Initiative.

Biodiversity: International Cooperation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanism she has established for non-governmental organisations to contribute views on the priorities for the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (IPBES); and whether she plans to establish a stakeholder forum for IPBES.

Richard Benyon: We expect the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (IPBES) to consider arrangements to receive views on its priorities including from non-governmental organisations. Once these are agreed we will consider whether we need separate mechanisms in the UK to feed in views of non-governmental organisations beyond those established internationally.

Butterfly Conservation Society

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Butterfly Conservation Society is contracted by  (a) Natural England and  (b) English Nature.

Richard Benyon: Natural England currently has a contract with Butterfly Conservation which funds action to conserve threatened butterflies and moths. English Nature formerly contracted Butterfly Conservation but ceased to exist in October 2006, when Natural England was formed.

Carbon Emissions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the  (a) Prime Minister and  (b) Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on the introduction of mandatory carbon reporting for businesses under section 85 of the Climate Change Act 2008.

James Paice: holding answer 8 December 2010
	The Secretary of State has not had discussions with the Prime Minister on this issue. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Henley, has had discussions with the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker) on the matter of corporate reporting of greenhouse gas emissions by businesses.

Carbon Emissions

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the mandatory reporting of carbon dioxide emissions by companies registered in the UK.

Richard Benyon: I refer the hon. Member for Glasgow North East to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr Wright) on 27 October 2010,  Official Report, column 319W.

Departmental Press: Subscriptions

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on press cuttings services in each year since its creation.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA holds records for the cost of its press cuttings service from April 2003 to the present. Annual costs are set out in the following list.
	DEFRA reviewed and rationalised its press cuttings service at the beginning of this year, resulting in significant cost savings, and the Department will continue to keep the service under review to ensure it represents good value for money.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2010(1) 88,114.55 
			 2009 167,459.24 
			 2008 165,373.74 
			 2007 151,936.73 
			 2006 149,653.78 
			 2005 94,543.74 
			 2004 168,511.70 
			 2003(2) 137,735.56 
			 (1 )January to November.  (2 )April to December.

Departmental Sponsorship

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what expenditure  (a) her Department and  (b) its non-departmental public bodies incurred on sponsorship in each year since 1997 for which figures are available.

Richard Benyon: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Written Questions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the number of questions to her Department tabled in the  (a) House of Commons and  (b) House of Lords that remained unanswered after 10 working days as a result of observation of guidance on the timing of answers to similar questions tabled to more than one Department in the latest period for which figures are available.

Richard Benyon: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude) on 1 December 2010,  Official Report, columns 184-85W.
	In the case of questions that are deemed to be 'round robin', the Guide to Parliamentary Work, published by the Leader of the House of Commons states that Departments should not delay preparing an answer until 'round robin' advice is provided, and should not miss the target deadlines for this reason.
	 Guide to Parliamentary Work-Paragraph 7.21:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/guide_to_parliamentary_work.pdf

Eagle Owls

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on measures to control the spread of the eagle owl.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA officials have held discussions with key parties, including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which advocated a need for further evidence of impacts, and reinforcing messages to reduce further unlawful releases of eagle owls.
	After considering all the facts on the threat that eagle owls pose to native wildlife have not been convinced that any immediate action is needed to control them. We will continue to monitor the effect they are having and will reassess the situation if necessary.

European Waste Framework Directive

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by what date she expects each element of the revised European Waste Framework Directive to have been implemented.

Richard Benyon: The transposition and implementation of the revised Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) are devolved matters. I anticipate that regulations transposing the Directive in England will be laid before Parliament in January 2011. I understand that it is anticipated that transposing regulations will be laid before the Scottish Parliament later this month and the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly in January 2011. In each case the date of implementation of the transposing regulations is dependent on the conclusion of the respective parliamentary processes.

Flood Control: Minehead

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Environment Agency spent on the new sea defences in Minehead in 2010-11; and what such expenditure is planned for 2011-12.

Richard Benyon: Minehead emergency works are scheduled to be completed by January 2011. The works involve placing 7000 tonnes of rock along a 130-metre length of coast, eastward from Warren Point towards Dunster Beach. The project will cost £500,000 and will reduce the flood risk to 688 properties in Minehead.
	There is no expenditure planned on these defences for 2011-12.

Football: South Africa

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department spent on entertainment related to the activities of the 2010 FIFA World cup.

Richard Benyon: We have no central record of any expenditure relating to the 2010 FIFA World cup bid.

Hill Farming

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people have participated in the Upland Entry Level Scheme since its introduction.

James Paice: holding answer 9 December 2010
	Uptake for Uplands Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) so far has been higher than expected. As of 7 December, there were 3,300 live agreements in place covering over 472,000 hectares of land in England's severely disadvantaged area (SDA). In total more than 3,900 applications have been received for the scheme, and Natural England are well on track to meet their target of 505,000 hectares of SDA land in uplands ELS agreements by March 2011.

Hill Farming

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people claimed hill farm allowance in each of the last 10 years.

James Paice: holding answer 9 December 2010
	The first Hill Farm Allowance payments were made in 2001 and continued until this year when it was replaced by Uplands Entry Level Stewardship. The following table provides a total of the number of applications received and the number of eligible claims paid.
	
		
			   Total number of applications received  Total number of eligible claims paid 
			 2001 13,492 1,0968 
			 2002 11,357 9,996 
			 2003 11,244 9,912 
			 2004 11,060 9,859 
			 2005 11,155 9,763 
			 2006 11,687 11,011 
			 2007 13,104 9,394 
			 2008 9,539 6,996 
			 2009 8,214 7,033 
			 2010 7,826 7,009

Hunting

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on the  (a) effectiveness and  (b) operation of the Hunting Act 2004.

James Paice: The Government receive a high volume of correspondence about the Hunting Act 2004, many of which comment on the effectiveness and continuing operation of the Act. The Government have not, however, received any recent representations on these matters from organisations on either side of the hunting debate.

Hunting

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the  (a) Prime Minister and  (b) Deputy Prime Minister on her Department's plans to bring forward legislation to repeal the Hunting Act 2004.

James Paice: DEFRA Ministers have had no recent discussions with either the Prime Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister about the Hunting Act 2004.

Hunting

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to bring a bill before Parliament to repeal the Hunting Act 2004.

James Paice: There are many greater priorities facing the Government at the moment, but we have said that we will put forward a motion on the issue of hunting with dogs at an appropriate time.

Nappies: Waste Disposal

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the cost to the public purse of disposing of disposable nappies in each of the last five years.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA does not hold this information in the form requested.
	However, using data on from the Environment Agency's 2006 report, An updated lifecycle assessment study for disposable and reusable nappies, and population estimates for England from the Office for National Statistics, the estimated cost of disposing of children's disposable nappies in England was approximately £19.1 million in 2009. This estimate does not include landfill tax.

Natural England

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what Natural England's policy is on common land in England; what common land at what locations Natural England has worked on in the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: There are 7,000 commons in England covering nearly 400,000 hectares. Natural England (NE) has a statutory role on virtually all commons. That is because the vast majority (88%) of the land carries national or international designations, and most commons are designated as access land under Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000. Because the distribution of common land is uneven, NE is especially involved in Cumbria (which has a third of all English common land), Yorkshire, the South West, the New Forest, and South East England.
	NE has received Upland Entry Level Scheme applications for 125,000ha of common land in 2010 - one third of all upland commons, and is currently supporting commoners and stakeholders in Cumbria, Bodmin Moor, and on Brendon Common (Exmoor), who are considering submitting a case to the Secretary of State for the establishment of Commons Councils under the Commons Act 2006.

Otters

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what factors her Department has identified for the increase in the number of otters in the UK in the last five years; and whether her Department has provided incentives to encourage an increase in the otter population.

Richard Benyon: The fifth otter survey published by the Environment Agency in October suggests that the welcome recovery in otter numbers is due to a combination of reduction in levels of toxic pesticides and the general improvements in water quality and consequent increase in fish stocks.
	DEFRA has supported the Biodiversity Action Plan for otters which includes working with the Environment Agency and Natural England towards meeting water quality objectives on all rivers across England, so they can support healthy fish stocks and improve riparian habitat management. Such improvements will help biodiversity as a whole, improving the quality of habitat for many species, including the otter. In addition Natural England funds work under the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme which improves habitats for otters through general habitat management works and reducing pollution risks.

Poultry: Animal Welfare

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will accelerate her plans to introduce a ban on beak trimming for laying hens; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The removal of the ban is an interim solution. In the long-term we want to see a ban on routine beak trimming. The Government have taken heed of the strength of feeling on this issue during the consultation and since then and decided to adopt the Farm Animal Welfare Council's recommendation of setting a review date of 2015. We will assess the output of this work, with a view to banning routine beak trimming in 2016.
	Research on how to reduce the risk of injurious pecking in flocks is ongoing and without the results of this work being available, it was appropriate to identify a provisional date to ban beak trimming rather than place a new date in the Regulations. The Beak Trimming Action Group will be tasked with developing an action plan to work towards a future ban on beak trimming. Conclusions from the research project and results from industry study tours will also be presented to the Group to consider.

Rights of Way: Applications

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department provides to local authorities in order to enable them to fund rights of way applications; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 all surveying authorities are required to ensure that all public rights of way in their area are recorded on the definitive map and statement (the local authority's legal record of public rights of way) as accurately as is reasonably practicable. Not all surveying authorities have completed this task and they therefore still receive applications to record public rights of way on the definitive map and statement. Local authorities are funded for this work through the unhypothecated Environment Protection and Cultural Services block in the revenue support grant.

Rights of Way: Fees and Charges

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the power of local authorities to charge fees in relation to rights of way applications.

Richard Benyon: Applications for definitive map modification orders are primarily made in the public interest, in order to assist the local authority in its duty to keep the definitive map and statement (the local authority's legal record of public rights of way) as accurate as is reasonably practicable. Local authorities are funded for this work though the Revenue support grant. There is therefore no need, nor provision, to enable a local authority to recover any costs incurred in processing such an application. In the case of an application for a public path order there is provision for the local authority to recover some costs, as the applicant usually gains some benefit from the stopping up or diversion of a way.

Rural Areas

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on the establishment of a Rural Communities Policy Unit in her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The new Rural Communities Policy Unit in DEFRA came in being on 1 December 2010, when 14 staff were formally transferred from the Commission for Rural Communities to join DEFRA'S existing rural team. A number of further posts will be filled by the end of January 2011.

Slaughterhouses: New Zealand

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has made representations to the government of New Zealand on the prohibition on the practice of shechita in New Zealand; what response was received; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: No representations have been made to the Government of New Zealand on the prohibition on the practice of shechita in New Zealand. Decisions on such matters are for the New Zealand Government.

Timber: Imports

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from which countries wood was imported for use as biomass in  (a) 2007,  (b) 2008 and  (c) 2009; and how much wood each country supplied in each year.

Charles Hendry: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, my hon. Friend the Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker) on 1 December 2010,  Official Report, columns 801-02W.
	From April 2009, the renewables obligation required generators over 50 kilowatts to submit an annual sustainability report to Ofgem setting out the available information on their biomass feedstocks, including country of origin. Information for the first reporting period have been compiled by Ofgem and are available from their website at;
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/MoreInformation. aspx?docid=222&refer=Sustainability/Environment/RenewablObl
	Where data on import origin are available these indicate that there are seven countries reported to export wood to the UK, primarily in pellet form, as set out in the following table. The total tonnage of wood imported to the UK over the 2009-10 reporting period was 131,937 tonnes, over 90% of which came from Canada. In comparison, the UK supplied over 1.9 million tonnes wood. Figures are not available for previous years.
	
		
			  2009 
			  Reported country  Reported tonnage 
			 France 4,865.1 
			 Poland 3,597.1 
			 Russia 188.2 
			 Denmark and Sweden 2,634.5 
			 Canada 119,531.4 
			 USA 1,120.6 
			 UK 1,965,512.7 
			 Total tonnage reported 2,097,450

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Government intends to measure its progress in implementing its commitment to reduce the number of animals used in scientific procedures.

Lynne Featherstone: We are currently developing a strategy to deliver the coalition commitment to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific procedures and will announce our plans in due course. We will be looking for genuine reductions which improve animal welfare and will avoid measures which simply drive work abroad to countries where lower standards or less stringent testing guidelines may apply.
	It will be essential to ensure that the reporting of progress against the coalition commitment is based on careful and accurate analysis of the trends in animal use. We are considering what sorts of measures and evidence will be appropriate.

Arrest Warrants: Russia

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to resist implementation of the Russian Interpol arrest warrant for the British citizen William Browder; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: The implementation of an Interpol arrest warrant in the United Kingdom is an operational matter for the police; the Secretary of State for the Home Department has no involvement. In accordance with normal practice, we can neither confirm nor deny whether an arrest warrant for William Browder has been transmitted through Interpol. Where a person is arrested for extradition purposes, the Extradition Act 2003 sets out a number of safeguards which the courts and the Secretary of State must consider before extradition can be ordered.

Counter-terrorism: Finance

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the geographical distribution of the proposed reduction in the counter-terrorism budget.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 6 December 2010
	 The Department does not publish its counter-terrorism budget by geographical distribution for reasons of national security. It has been the policy of successive governments not to reveal these details.

Crime: Statistics

Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place to ensure the accuracy of crime statistics.

Nick Herbert: Home Office crime statistics are produced in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority Code of Practice for Official Statistics. The code sets out the practices that are required to ensure the impartiality, objectivity and integrity of the statistics and the use of sound statistical methods.
	If we are to improve confidence in crime statistics and drive effective action to tackle crime, the public must have more complete and independently produced information. We are currently reviewing how crime statistics should be collected and published in future, and will make further announcements in due course.

Crimes of Violence: Newham

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded incidences of violent crimes occurred in  (a) West Ham constituency and  (b) the London borough of Newham in the last 12 months.

Nick Herbert: The latest available data refer to the period between July 2009 and June 2010, in which police recorded 7,507 violence against the person offences in the London borough of Newham. Information for the West Ham constituency is not held centrally.

Curfews

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in each police force area arrested during September 2010, but not charged when arrested, received curfews of 10 hours or more as a condition of police bail; how many such people had their police bail extended beyond four weeks without being charged, but with the curfew remaining in place; and how many such people subsequently charged or remaining on curfew had not been charged by the end of November 2010.

Nick Herbert: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Data on arrests reported to the Home Office does not separately include data on the direct outcome of arrests.

Cybercrime

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cyber attacks on the ICT infrastructure of Government departments have been detected in the last 12 months.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 25 November 2010
	The Director of the Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ) recently estimated that over 20,000 malicious emails are detected on Government networks each month, 1,000 of which are deliberately targeting them. It would not be in the interests of UK national security to go into greater detail since such disclosure could assist attackers in undermining the integrity and security of departmental systems and thereby increase their exposure to potential threats.
	Departments are required to have technical controls in place to protect their ICT systems from cyber threats. GCHQ, through its information assurance arm, CESG, and its Computer Emergency Response Team, GovCertUK, provides Government Departments with guidance on how to protect themselves against, detect, and mitigate various types of cyber attack, and acts as a single point for reporting Government network security incidents.

Dactyloscopic Data

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to sign the proposed agreement with Albania on exchange of dactyloscopic data.

James Brokenshire: The bilateral agreement relating to the exchange of criminal records information and fingerprint images is beneficial to both countries. It is expected to be signed by the UK and Albania at a mutually convenient date in the near future.

Demonstrations: City of Westminster

David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Metropolitan police on the removal of encampments from pavements regularly used by pedestrians outside offices of Government Departments in Whitehall.

James Brokenshire: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary regularly discusses a range of policing issues with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
	The Government have introduced measures in the Police Reform Social and Responsibility Bill to support rights to peaceful protest around Parliament while also tackling encampments and other disruptive activity on Parliament Square. The Government have also included a measure to provide local authorities with powers to seize and retain property in connection with any breach of relevant byelaws to cover similar nuisances taking place in areas beyond Parliament Square.

Demonstrations: Westminster

Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) lecturers and  (b) other employees of universities and colleges were arrested during the November 2010 demonstrations in Westminster; and which institution employs each such individual.

Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not hold this information.

Departmental Conferences

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken since her appointment to reduce expenditure on conferences from budgets within her responsibility.

Nick Herbert: The Home Office constantly seeks to ensure that any conferences that it organises are both necessary and provide good value for money for the taxpayer.
	We hold a database of venues belonging to Government Departments that we are able to access free of charge. Our in house team will always check for free venues and their availability and provide advice on alternatives. For larger events which the Government estate cannot accommodate we on occasion have to use external venues for which there is a charge. The procurement mechanism for this process has been developed to ensure that a free or low cost option is always sought first.

Departmental Contracts

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department plans to take to encourage and support small and medium-sized enterprises and third sector organisations to compete for departmental contracts in line with value-for-money policy, UK regulations and EU procurement directives.

Nick Herbert: The Home Department is currently producing a plan in support of the Government's initiative on creating opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and third sector organisations. It builds from the Department's current ability to identify its SME community, which comprises 38% of the suppliers used and represents 9% of its supplier spend. This is complemented by the Department's good record of payment within five days.
	The Department is actively contributing to the cross government agenda which is being led by the Efficiency Reform Group.

Departmental Courier Services

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average annual salary is of staff in the Mail Messenger Service in her Department's headquarters.

Nick Herbert: The average salary of civil servants employed in the Headquarters Mail Messenger Service in the Home Office is £19,800. Salaries paid to staff by the operator of the already outsourced element of this operation are not known as the cost is included in an overall service management charge.

Departmental Courier Services

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's Properties Group's business case for the outsourcing of the mail and messenger service;
	(2)  whether her Department's Properties Group has made a business case for retaining an in-house mail and messenger service.

Nick Herbert: The proposal to change from partial to full outsourcing of the Home Office Headquarters Mail and Messenger Service has not reached the business case stage.

Departmental Courier Services

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has provided information to Anne's Gate Properties in respect of staff in her Department's mail messenger service; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: Mail and messenger staff information has been provided to Anne's Gate Property in accordance with the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations and with Cabinet Office guidelines.

Departmental Courier Services

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department has provided to its trade unions side on staff in the Mail Messenger Service in the last six months; whether all information provided to private companies on such staff has been provided to the trade union side; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: There have been a number of meetings with the trade union side about the future of the mail and messenger staff. Information requested at such meetings and by written request has been provided to the trade union side as far as requirements for confidentiality permit.

Departmental Courier Services

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates the Director and Head of Unit in her Department's properties group met her Department's Mail Messenger Service staff and their representative unions in the last six months.

Nick Herbert: Their managers have held eight meetings with the messenger staff, or the union that represents a proportion of them, since July 2010.

Departmental Databases

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of arrangements for data collection in  (a) her Department and  (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 7 December 2010
	The Code of Practice for Official Statistics, implementing the Statistics and Registration Act 2007, covers official statistics published by the Department and its non-departmental public bodies. The Home Office's 'Statement of compliance with Code of Practice for Official Statistics' is published on the Department's website at:
	http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/ho-compliance-state-10.pdf
	and states:
	"The Home Office is committed to regularly reviewing its National Statistics outputs. Our data collection, analysis and dissemination methods will continue to be reviewed regularly to identify ongoing opportunities for improvement.
	In collecting, processing & publishing our statistics, we will endeavour to place the minimum burdens necessary on data providers. We consider the costs to data suppliers in developing new data requirements and review regularly the existing data requirements to ensure that they continue to be relevant."
	The Department's Information Strategy was recently published within the draft Transparency section of the Department's Business Plan 2011-2015:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/corporate-publications/business-plan-2011-15/business-plan?view=Binary

Departmental Innovation

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what structures her Department has established to encourage innovation amongst its staff.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 7 December 2010
	 The Department values the ideas and suggestions of its staff in promoting improved service delivery to the public and value for money for the taxpayer. We operate a staff suggestion scheme in order to encourage staff to innovate and improve efficiency.
	The Department has also launched a value for money toolkit to support policy makers, operational leaders, and business planners in developing innovations to help achieve more for less. Along with other Government Departments the Department also participated in the spending challenge which invited public sector workers and members of the public to suggest ideas on how the Government could save money and do more with less.

Departmental Publications

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of her Department's expenditure on printing  (a) Command Papers,  (b) papers laid before Parliament by Act,  (c) consultation documents and  (d) other papers in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Herbert: It is not possible to identify expenditure on specific types of publications without incurring disproportionate cost. This would involve examination of a very large number of transactions across a range of accounting categories.

Energy Supply

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of  (a) electricity and  (b) gas supplied to her Department's offices at 2 Marsham Street in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Nick Herbert: From available records the following table displays payments made on electricity and gas for 2 Marsham street since November 2009.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Month  Gas  Electricity 
			  2009   
			 November 5,324.81 85,642.14 
			 December 10,157.90 81,711.73 
			
			  2010   
			 January 21,166.09 93,788.21 
			 February 13,389.04 86,670.29 
			 March 7,478.29 93,511.71 
			 April 2,393.22 80,732.73 
			 May 2,564.36 85,303.67 
			 June 2,310.48 94,493.54 
			 July 2,054.84 99,271.80 
			 August 1,909.57 92,268.26 
			 September 2,222.62 90,179.80 
			 October 2,692.41 82,025.48 
			 Total 73,663.63 1,065,599.36

Immigration: North East

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the likely effects of an immigration cap on businesses in  (a) Sunderland,  (b) the North East and  (c) England.

Damian Green: The Migration Advisory Committee published a report in November on the limits on Tiers 1 and 2 of the Points Based System, including an assessment of economic, public service and social impacts.
	The Government will also publish an impact assessment.

Industrial Disputes: Shrewsbury

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish the documents held by her Department relating to the 1972 Shrewsbury Picket dispute.

Nick Herbert: As departmental records approach 30 years of age, they are reviewed by the Home Office and agreement is reached with The National Archives (TNA) as to which are worthy of permanent preservation. Files on industrial action, and the regulation of strikes and picketing during the early 1970's, which have been selected, have been reviewed and transferred to TNA. Other relevant files have been examined but no records specific to the 1972 Shrewsbury Picket dispute have been identified. As the Department has no documents relating to this dispute there is nothing that can be published.

Information and Communications Technology: Recycling

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the recycling and redeployment of new or nearly-new IT equipment which is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was purchased; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 8 December 2010
	The secure disposal or re-use of new or nearly-new IT equipment is dependant upon the level of protectively marked material or personal data stored on the system. As our IT equipment is generally managed under contract by our IT service providers, they will manage the re-use or disposal according to central government security policies. The Home Office has a general policy of sharing, re-use and commonality of IT capabilities, in order to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve environmental sustainability.

Internet

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has made an estimate of the potential savings to the public purse which would arise from consumers of services provided by her Department accessing them via websites rather than face-to-face or by post.

Nick Herbert: Direct services are provided by Home Office agencies and many of these are already available online. Where there is potential for savings these are factored into the savings plans of relevant agencies. No overall estimate of the potential savings from moving further customer transactions online has therefore been made by the Department.

National Police Improvement Agency

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the likely effect on the role and functions of the National Police Improvement Agency of the structure proposed for the National Crime Agency.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 7 December 2010
	 The Government announced their intention, in July 2010, to phase out the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) as part of wider policing reforms. Work is currently under way to review the functions performed by the agency and to determine, for those which it is necessary to continue to deliver, how best that might be done in the new policing landscape. Work is similarly underway on ensuring that the National Crime Agency (NCA) is structured so as to enable it most effectively to fight organised crime. While it may prove appropriate for some current NPIA functions to transfer to the NCA no final decisions have yet been made.

Offences against Children

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces have investigated allegations of child sexual abuse overseas in each of the last three years.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 7 December 2010
	 The investigation of allegations of child sexual abuse overseas is not distinguished from domestic investigations on police data systems, we are therefore unable to provide the information requested.

Passports

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on reintroducing passport renewal for a period of less than 10 years.

Damian Green: The period of validity of the UK passport is set in accordance with guidelines issued by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) which recommends a validity period of up to 10 years. We have considered the option of issuing a UK passport for periods of less than 10 years in response to correspondence and other enquiries generally by or on behalf of senior citizens. However, we have not adopted a shorter validity passport because it would incur similar costs to that of a 10-year passport.

Police: Accountability

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the provisions of the Police (Amendment) Regulations 2004 in respect of membership of certain political organisations will apply to the proposed elected police commissioners.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 6 December 2010
	 No. The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2004 refer to members of police forces, and police and crime commissioners will not be members of police forces.

Police: Accountability

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will ask HM Inspectorate of Constabulary to conduct a risk assessment of her proposals for elected police and crime commissioners.

Nick Herbert: No. The role of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary is to monitor and report on forces and policing activity. It is for Parliament to scrutinise government policy.

Police: Crimes of Violence

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many serving staff in each police force have been investigated for  (a) violent offences,  (b) sex offences,  (c) fraud offences and  (d) offences of burglary, theft or robbery (i) before and (ii) during their employment; and what role each fulfils in each force;
	(2)  how many serving police officers in each police force were investigated for  (a) violent offences,  (b) sex offences,  (c) offences of fraud and  (d) offences of burglary, theft or robbery before their appointment.

Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not hold the information requested.

Police: Disciplinary Proceedings

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if she will estimate the cost to the public purse of legal fees for disciplinary hearings in  (a) the Metropolitan Police Service and  (b) Cambridgeshire Constabulary in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many full-time staff worked on internal investigations in  (a) the Metropolitan Police Service and  (b) Cambridgeshire Constabulary in each of the last three years; and what the cost to the public purse was of such investigations in each such year.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 7 December 2010
	 The conduct of internal investigations and staff disciplinary hearings are matters for the relevant police force and police authority. The Home Office has no role in these and does not hold the information requested.

Police: Information

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department holds on the age profile of police officers in each police  (a) force,  (b) department, (c) squad,  (d) assignment and  (e) operation.

Nick Herbert: Figures are collected in the following age groups: 25 and under, 26 to 40, 41 to 55 and over 55. The latest available data are provided in the following table which shows the age group of police officers by police force as at 31 March 2010 (headcount).
	Information on the age profile of police officers in each police department, squad, assignment and operation is not collected centrally.
	
		
			  Police officers in each police force by age group, as at 31 March 2010( 1) 
			  Headcount 
			   25 and under  26 to 40  41 to 55  Over 55  Total 
			 Avon and Somerset 113 1,720 1,519 25 3,377 
			 Bedfordshire 108 662 480 15 1,265 
			 Cambridgeshire 121 763 597 12 1,493 
			 Cheshire 93 1,199 880 13 2,185 
			 Cleveland 91 925 716 10 1,742 
			 Cumbria 65 574 615 10 1,264 
			 Derbyshire 129 1,029 936 16 2,110 
			 Devon and Cornwall 94 1,737 1,770 31 3,632 
			 Dorset 42 824 651 11 1,528 
			 Durham 31 770 727 4 1,532 
			 Dyfed-Powys 64 575 572 4 1,215 
			 Essex 519 1,773 1,345 37 3,674 
			 Gloucestershire 64 689 581 8 1,342 
			 Greater Manchester 509 4,270 3,408 29 8,216 
			 Gwent 52 787 618 9 1,466 
			 Hampshire 129 2,088 1,586 27 3,830 
			 Hertfordshire 194 1,226 740 17 2,177 
			 Humberside 88 980 1,015 23 2,106 
			 Kent 339 2,089 1,397 37 3,862 
			 Lancashire 220 1,938 1,534 7 3,699 
			 Leicestershire 141 1,220 972 18 2,351 
			 Lincolnshire 83 562 565 8 1,218 
			 London, City of 36 389 419 19 863 
			 Merseyside 392 2,118 2,008 42 4,560 
			 Metropolitan Police 2,263 17,528 13,623 406 33,820 
			 Norfolk 113 856 720 11 1,700 
			 Northamptonshire 101 692 574 10 1,377 
			 Northumbria 215 2,119 1,885 12 4,231 
			 North Wales 70 768 763 8 1,609 
			 North Yorkshire 53 737 712 5 1,507 
			 Nottinghamshire 143 1,265 1,023 20 2,451 
			 South Wales 101 1,692 1,376 20 3,189 
			 South Yorkshire 80 1,476 1,420 17 2,993 
			 Staffordshire 57 1,137 991 18 2,203 
			 Suffolk 54 652 562 9 1,277 
			 Surrey 160 1,049 696 23 1,928 
			 Sussex 298 1,793 1,171 23 3,285 
			 Thames Valley 426 2,363 1,689 38 4,516 
			 Warwickshire 32 489 456 8 985 
			 West Mercia 111 1,165 1,126 22 2,424 
			 West Midlands 686 4,883 3,135 61 8,765 
			 West Yorkshire 365 3,114 2,337 40 5,856 
			 Wiltshire 43 537 611 14 1,205 
			 Total 9,088 75,222 60,521 1,197 146,028 
			 (1) All figures are provisional, subject to change and have not been verified by forces.

Police: Manpower

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the likely change in the number of  (a) police officers and  (b) police community support officers in each year to 2015.

Nick Herbert: The estimate of the likely number of police officers and police community support officers in each year to 2015 is not available centrally.
	We are determined to do what we can to strip out bureaucracy and unnecessary cost, driving efficiencies within and between forces. The frontline must be the last place to look for savings, not the first. That is why we have scrapped the policing pledge and the confidence target, and why we are determined to reduce the burden of central doctrine and guidance that imposes compliance costs and takes manpower away from the frontline.

Police: Manpower

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the rate of turnover of  (a) police community support officers and  (b) police officers in (i) the Metropolitan Police Service and (ii) Cambridgeshire Constabulary in each of the last three years.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 7 December 2010
	The latest available data are provided in the following table which shows the rate of turnover of police community support officers and police officers in Metropolitan Police Service and Cambridgeshire constabulary in each of the last three years. The rate of turnover is the number of leavers as a percentage of staff in post.
	
		
			  Rate of turnover( 1)  of police community support officers and police officers in Metropolitan Police Service and Cambridgeshire constabulary in the last three years( 2,3) 
			   Metropolitan Police Service  Cambridgeshire constabulary 
			   PCSOs  Police officers  PCSOs  Police officers 
			   Total no. of PCSOs( 4)  Total no. of leavers( 5)  Rate of turnover (%)  Total no. of police officers( 4)  Total no. of leavers( 5)  Rate of turnover (%)  Total no. of PCSOs( 4)  Total no. of leavers( 5)  Rate of turnover (%)  Total no. of police officers( 4)  Total no. of leavers( 5)  Rate of turnover (%) 
			 2007-08 4,247 691 16.3 31,460 1,398 4.4 197 25 12.8 1,379 106 7.7 
			 2008-09 4,594 558 12.1 32,610 1,428 4.4 195 36 18.3 1,450 97 6.7 
			 2009-10 4,645 922 19.9 33,367 1,232 3.7 209 24 11.3 1,471 76 5.2 
			 (1) The rate of turnover is the number of leavers as a percentage of staff in post. It is also described as the wastage rate. (2) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. (3) The total number of leavers includes transfers to other England and Wales forces but does not include officers leaving after a period of secondment. (4) As at 31 March 2008 to 2010. (5) Leavers include dismissals, voluntary resignations, medical retirements, normal retirements, transfers and death.

Police: Manpower

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of  (a) police community support officers and  (b) police officers in (i) the Metropolitan Police Service and (ii) Cambridgeshire Constabulary were assigned to light duties in each of the last three years.

Nick Herbert: Data are available on the number of police officers on recuperative and restricted duties. The following tables show the number and proportion of these officers in the Metropolitan Police Service and Cambridgeshire constabulary in each of the last three years.
	Information on the number and proportion of police community support officers on light duties are not collected centrally.
	
		
			  Number and proportion of police officers on recuperative and restricted duties in the Metropolitan Police Service and Cambridgeshire constabulary in each of the last three years( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			  Metropolitan Police Service 
			   Police officers 
			Recuperative duties( 5)  Restricted duties( 6) 
			   Total number of police officers( 7)  Number  Proportion (%)  Number  Proportion (%) 
			 2007-08 31,871 1,078 3.4 1,042 3.3 
			 2008-09 33,039 1,113 3.4 1,151 3.5 
			 2009-10 33,820 1,273 3.8 1,122 3.3 
		
	
	
		
			  Cambridgeshire Constabulary 
			   Police officers 
			Recuperative duties( 5)  Restricted duties( 6) 
			   Total number of police officers( 7)  Number  Proportion (%)  Number  Proportion (%) 
			 2007-08 1,396 n/a n/a 42 3.0 
			 2008-09 1,469 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 2009-10 1,493 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 n/a = The number of recuperative and restricted duties could not be provided by Cambridgeshire constabulary, except for 2007-08 restricted duties. (1) Proportion is calculated as the total number of recuperative duties divided by the total number of staff in post and the total number of restricted duties divided by the total number of staff in post. (2) These tables contain headcount figures, rather than full-time equivalents. (3) These data are provisional. They have not undergone usual quality assurance practices (including validation with individual police forces). (4) Source: Home Office using data received from police forces via the Annual Data Requirement. (5) Total number of police officers (head count) on 'recuperative' duties as at 31 March. These are temporary duties or working conditions approved to assist an officer's ultimate return to full duties after injury or illness by allowing them to return to or continue in work of a less demanding capacity. (6) Total number of police officers (head count) on 'restricted' duties as at 31 March. These are duties or conditions approved, other than for recuperative purposes, for fixed periods totalling more than 28 consecutive days (including rest days) for an officer who is unable for a specific reason to carry out one or more aspects of full operational duty. (7) As at 31 March 2008 to 2010.

Police: Newham

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence on population size her Department used to calculate the level of police precept for the London borough of Newham in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Herbert: The information requested is not held centrally as the setting of police precepts is a matter for individual police authorities.

Police: Northumbria

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding her Department has provided under each budget heading to Northumbria police force since 2000; and how much such funding her Department plans to provide in the Spending Review period.

Nick Herbert: The information requested for the year 2000-01 to 2010-11 is set out in the following tables.
	
		
			  Northumbria police: funding 
			  £ 
			  Revenue 
			   Home Office police main grant  Crime fighting fund  Basic command unit fund  Police community support office grant  Neighbourhood policing fund  Forensic (DNA expansion) grant  Special priority payment  Rule 2 grant (includes the former Forensic DNA grant and special priority payment) 
			 2000-01 109,719,591 837,334 - - - 413,744 - - 
			 2001-02 113,786,288 2,998,000 - - - 1,303,972 - - 
			 2002-03 113,187,850 5,716,000 - - - 1,176,794 - - 
			 2003-04 123,558,391 6,752,402 1,350,580 330,398 - 1,237,670 1,186,429 - 
			 2004-05 124,859,764 7,271,104 1,350,580 861,854 - 1,229,131 1,652,794 - 
			 2005-06(1) 130,420,176 7,271,104 1,350,580 2,097,858 - 979,952 2,124,245 - 
			 2006-07(2) 105,706,944 7,271,104 1,350,580 941,008 5,207,840 - - 3,055,217 
			 2007-08(3, 4) 107,608,914 7,271,104 1,350,580 969,000 7,319,000 - - 3,055,217 
			 2008-09(5) 108,833,223 7,271,104 1,080,464 8,512,136 - - 3,543,585 
			 2009-10 111,322,014 7,271,104 1,080,464 8,741,964 - - 3,543,585 
			 2010-11(6) 113,874,660 7,271,104 1,080,464 8,977,997 - - 49,871 
		
	
	
		
			  £ 
			  Capital 
			   Capital grant  Airwave  Premises improvement fund  Pensions top-up grant( 7) 
			 2000-01 2,844,000 - - - 
			 2001-02 3,622,000 8,134,000 - - 
			 2002-03 1,414,100 - 500,000 - 
			 2003-04 1,540,500 635,000 350,000 - 
			 2004-05 6,642,000 372,000 - - 
			 2005-06(1) 5,972,000 739,000 - - 
			 2006-07(2) 5,596,160 - - 10,630,000 
			 2007-08(3, 4) 6,246,000 - - 11,650,000 
			 2008-09(5) 6,082,000 - - 12,817,000 
			 2009-10 6,082,000 - - 19,933,682 
			 2010-11(6) 5,778,199 - - - 
			 (1) Includes amendments made under the Home Office Police Grant Report Amending Report for changes to census 2001 population data. (2) NPF figure includes Northumbria's share of the £91 million announced in the 2006 Budget. (3) Capital figure includes the increased capital allocations announced on 24 May and 19 June 2007. (4) Police main grant has been adjusted for comparison purposes with 2008-09 to take account of a change in funding for dealing with stray dogs. (5) Rule 2 grant includes for the first time the former specific grant-Initial Police Learning and Development Programme. (6) Takes account in-year reductions in July 2010. (7) In 2006-07, the way police pensions were funded changed and the pensions top-up grant was introduced, a more detailed explanation of this can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/police/police-finance/ As a result, the size of police main grant before the introduction of the pensions top-up grant is not directly comparable with the size of police main grant after the introduction of the pensions top-up grant.  Note: Funding for counter-terrorism is not included in the table for security purposes. 
		
	
	Detail on 2011-12 funding allocations for individual forces, including Northumbria, will be announced shortly when the provisional police settlements will be placed before the House of Commons.

Police: Offenders

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2010,  Official Report, column 508W, on police: offenders, if she will bring forward proposals to record the number of police officers convicted of a criminal offence.

Nick Herbert: I have no plans to bring forward such proposals.

Police: Pensions

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police authorities have indicated to her Department that they may implement Regulation A19 of the Police Pensions Regulations 1987 in the last three months.

Nick Herbert: The Government have no role to play in any exercise of this power by police authorities, and there is no requirement on them to inform the Government whether they may use it. The Department is in regular discussion with members of police authorities on the range of issues and challenges that are facing the police.

Police: Public Expenditure

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the change in the number of front-line  (a) police community support officers and  (b) police officers in Northumbria in the comprehensive spending review period.

Nick Herbert: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will place the Government's proposed allocations for individual forces before Parliament in December.
	My right hon. Friend has been clear that the police service must play its part in reducing the deficit. Decisions about the number of police officers, police community support officers and other police staff engaged by the Northumbria police and how they are deployed are matters for the chief constable and the police authority.

Police: Sri Lanka

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) police and  (b) police community support officers were deployed for the recent visit of the President of Sri Lanka; and what the cost to the police service was of policing the visit.

Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not hold this information but we understand from the police that approximately 800 officers were deployed across the Metropolitan Police area for the visit.

Police: Vacancies

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies there have been for  (a) police community support officers and  (b) police officers in (i) the Metropolitan Police Service and (ii) Cambridgeshire Constabulary in each of the last three years.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 9 December 2010
	This information is not collected centrally by the Home Office. The recruitment of police community support officers and police officers is a matter for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, the chief constable of Cambridgeshire constabulary, and their respective police authorities

Police: West Midlands

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effects of reductions in funding for the West Midlands Police Force on  (a) police officer numbers,  (b) civilian support staff numbers and  (c) future officer recruitment.

Nick Herbert: I have today announced provisional funding allocations for individual police forces, including the West Midlands police.
	Decisions on the number of each are for chief constables and police authorities, but we are determined to do what we can to strip out bureaucracy and unnecessary cost, driving efficiencies within and between forces. The front-line must be the last place to look for savings, not the first. That is why we have scrapped the Policing Pledge and the confidence target, and why we are determined to reduce the burden of central doctrine and guidance that imposes compliance costs and takes manpower away from the front-line.
	Chief constables and police authorities are best placed to plan the work force mix of police officers, police support staff and police community support officers that is most suited to achieving the highest quality of service in their area.

Police: West Midlands

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding her Department allocated to the Police Service in the West Midlands in 2009-10; and what estimate she has made of the likely level of funding in  (a) 2010-11,  (b) 2011-12,  (c) 2012-13 and  (d) 2013-14.

Nick Herbert: The information requested for years 2009-10 and 2010-11 is set out in the following table.
	Detail on funding allocations for 2011-12 to 2014-15 for individual forces, including west midlands, will be announced shortly when the provisional police settlements will be placed before the House of Commons.
	
		
			  West midlands Government grants 
			  £ million 
			 2009-10 (1)540.9 
			 2010-11 (2,3)552.0 
			 (1,2) Government grants comprise: Home Office Police Grant; Department for Communities and Local Government Revenue Support Grant, and National Non-Domestic Rates; Crime Fighting Fund; Basic Command Unit Fund; Neighbourhood Policing Fund; Rule two Grant; Capital Grant. Excludes Counter Terrorism Funding. (3) Takes account of in-year reductions in July 2010.

Public Order

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many protest groups are recorded on the database of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 25 November 2010
	The Home Office does not hold this information.

Terrorism

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 938-39W, on terrorism, on how many occasions Lord Carlile of Berriew was consulted by those working on her Department's review of counter-terrorism legislation prior to 18 November 2010.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 1 December 2010
	Lord Carlile has been consulted by Ministers and officials on the review of counter terrorism and security measures on an ongoing basis since the review was announced in July.
	As set out in the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 13 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 797-809, the review is being conducted by the Home Office and proposals made by Lord Carlile QC will be fully considered as part of the review.

Terrorism: Public Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the potential effect of the outcomes of the comprehensive spending review on the number of posts relating to counter terrorism in her Department.

Nick Herbert: The Office for Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT) will reduce administrative expenditure as part of the Government's target to reduce the cost of Whitehall by one third over the period of the comprehensive spending review. We will ensure that the UK retains full capabilities to tackle the terrorist threat.

Theft: Gold

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences in which gold was  (a) stolen and  (b) unlawfully traded through cash for gold shops were reported in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: The information requested is not available centrally. It is not possible to determine such offences from the police recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office.

Visas

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people entering the UK under the student visa programme enrolled to study for a period of less than three months in the latest period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: Non-EEA nationals intending to study in the UK may enter as student visitors, providing their course of study does not exceed six months, or as students under Tier 4 of the points based system. In either case, information about the length of the course of study is not recorded centrally. The information requested could therefore be produced only by checking individual records at disproportionate cost.

Visas: Applications

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of visa applications were  (a) rejected on initial application and  (b) allowed in each category of appeal following initial rejection in the latest period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: In calendar year 2009, 18% of initial applications were rejected.
	In the same calendar year 33% of all appeals received were allowed. In the family visit category 36% of appeals were allowed. In the settlement category 37% of appeals were allowed. For other entry clearance appeals 25% were allowed.

CABINET OFFICE

Business: Closures

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many  (a) light industrial and  (b) manufacturing businesses in Sussex ceased trading in each year since 2005.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated December 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many (a) light industrial and (b) manufacturing businesses in Sussex closed in each year since 2005.
	Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births and survivals are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	However, the standard industrial classification (SIC07) contains no definition for "light industrial" enterprises. The table below contains the latest statistics available, which show enterprise deaths for East and West Sussex in the Manufacturing industry.
	
		
			  Business deaths in East and West Sussex for manufacturing 
			   2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			 East Sussex 145 115 140 85 130 
			 West Sussex 230 185 190 160 200

Corruption: EU Law

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 30 November 2010,  Official Report, column 783W, on corruption: EU law, what guidance is provided to  (a) Government Departments,  (b) business organisations and  (c) other contracting authorities to enable them to establish whether an economic operator should be treated as ineligible during the tendering procedure because it has been convicted of the offence of bribery.

Francis Maude: The Efficiency and Reform Group within the Cabinet Office has issued "Guidance on the Mandatory Exclusion of Economic Operators" to help Government Departments, business organisations and other contracting authorities to establish whether an economic operator should be treated as ineligible during the tendering procedure because it has been convicted of the offence of bribery, which is available at:
	www.ogc.gov.uk/procurement_policy_and_application_ of_eu_rules_guidance_on_the_uk_regulations.asp

Departmental Conferences

Robert Halfon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he has taken since his appointment to reduce expenditure on conferences by  (a) the Prime Minister's Office and  (b) his Department.

Francis Maude: The Government have implemented a Government-wide freeze on marketing and advertising as part of their plans to tackle the deficit. The marketing and advertising freeze includes conferences and has already delivered savings of £27 million in central Government by September 2010.
	The Cabinet Office, which the Prime Minister's Office is part of, does not hold conferences as such. We have, however, taken steps to ensure minimum costs on all events. The regional Cabinet meeting held in Bradford in July 2010 was £3,029.50, a considerable reduction on past regional Cabinet meetings which have cost between £50,000 and £100,000.

Departmental Overtime

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his Department spent on overtime for staff working in the private office of  (a) the Prime Minister and  (b) the ministerial head of his Department in each of the last five years.

Francis Maude: The figures for spend on overtime for staff working in the private offices of the Prime Minister and the Minister for the Cabinet Office for the last five years are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  £ 
			 2009-10 47,659 
			 2008-09 47,861 
			 2007-08 37,815 
			 2006-07 14,309 
			 2005-06 5,168

Departmental Publications

Robert Halfon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the expenditure of  (a) his Department and  (b) the Prime Minister's Office on printing (a) Command Papers, (b) papers laid before Parliament by Act, (c) consultation documents and (d) other papers in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.

Foreign Workers: EU Nationals

John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many EU nationals have entered the UK for the purposes of employment since 6 May 2010.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated December 2010:
	.
	The Office for National Statistics produces estimates of long-term international migration, primarily based on the International Passenger Survey. Our latest provisional estimates, for the year to March 2010, were published on 25 November 2010. We are unable to answer the above question because estimates are not yet available for the time period stated.

Government Departments: Computer Networks

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether an examination of the cost of Government-secured intranet communication links formed part of the Government's efficiency savings programme.

Francis Maude: Government secured intranet (gsi) and its cost has been discussed in the course of the Government's ongoing efficiency savings programme.

Government Departments: Procurement

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of Government contracts were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in the financial year 2009-10.

Francis Maude: The previous Government did not keep records of SME expenditure therefore the figures are not immediately available. We hope to properly collate this data and publish it before the end of the year.

Heroin: Death

John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many heroin addicts died of an overdose in each of the last three years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated December 2010:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many heroin addicts died of an overdose in each of the last three years. (29652)
	The table attached provides the number of deaths where the underlying cause was drug poisoning and heroin/morphine was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, either alone or together with other substances, in England and Wales, from 2007 to 2009 (the latest year available).
	Heroin (diamorphine) and morphine are counted together because the former breaks down in the body into morphine and, consequently the latter may be the substance detected at post mortem and recorded on the death certificate.
	It is not possible to determine from the information collected at death registration whether the deceased was an addict or regular user of a specific category of drugs, since this information is not routinely recorded. Where more than one drug is mentioned on the death certificate, it is not always possible to tell which of them was primarily responsible for the death.
	The number of deaths related to drug poisoning registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age, cause and specific substance are published annually on the National Statistics website at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=11695
	
		
			  Table 1. Number of deaths attributed to drug poisoning1 where heroin/morphine was mentioned on the death certificate either alone or with other substances, England and Wales( 2) , 2007 to 2009( 3) 
			   Heroin/Morphine only  Heroin/Morphine with other substances  Total mentions of heroin/morphine 
			 2007 588 241 829 
			 2008 587 310 897 
			 2009 562 318 880 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Deaths were included where the underlying cause was due to drug poisoning (shown below) and where heroin/morphine was mentioned on the death certificate.  ICD-10  Description F11-F16, F18-F19-Mental and behavioural disorders due to drug use (excluding alcohol and tobacco) X40-X44-Accidental poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X60-X64-Intentional self-poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X85-Assault by drugs, medicaments and biological substances Y10-Y14-Poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances, undetermined intent (2) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

House of Lords: Written Questions

David Amess: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  within what period after the date of tabling he expects his Department to circulate guidance to Departments in respect of round robin questions tabled in the House of Lords; under what circumstances guidance is not produced in respect of round robin questions; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of round robin questions to the Government tabled in the House of Lords which have been answered without  (a) waiting for and  (b) utilising round robin guidance; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 December 2010,  Official Report, column 884W.
	No estimate has been made of the number of round robin questions answered without waiting for guidance.

Ministers: Photography

David Winnick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the full duties are of the Cabinet Office employee who has been engaged to photograph Ministers.

Francis Maude: As of 11 November, his role is to take photographs of Ministers at official Government events and meetings for use across web, print and other media. He is a resource that can be used by all Government Departments. He has subsequently left the Department.

Pensioners: Age

David Laws: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many pensioners are aged  (a) 60 to 64,  (b) 65 to 69,  (c) 70 to 74,  (d) 75 to 79,  (e) 80 to 84 and  (f) 85 years or more.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated December 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many pensioners are aged (a) 60 to 64, (b) 65 to 69, (c) 70 to 74, (d) 75 to 79, (e) 80 to 84 and (f) 85 years or more (30040).
	ONS does not produce estimates of the number of individuals receiving pensions.
	However the attached table shows the number of people in the specified age groups resident in the UK in mid-2009. This is the latest year for which population estimates are available.
	
		
			  Population  e stimate by selected age groups in the United Kingdom in mid-2009 
			  Thousand 
			   60-64  65-69  70-74  75-79  80-84  85+ 
			 United Kingdom 3,719.1 2,837.1 2,441.6 1,989.3 1,468.5 1,369.3 
			  Source: Office for National Statistics, General Register Office for Scotland, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

TREASURY

Bank Services

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many de novo bank have applied for authorisation, excluding change of control or variations of permission, since 2005; how many such banks received that authorisation; on average what the time taken was between an initial application and an authorisation; how many such banks are in the application process; on average how long such banks have been awaiting an authorisation decision; how many such banks received Minded to Authorise letters; and on average what the time taken was between the making of an initial application and the issuing of a Minded to Authorise letter.

Mark Hoban: The matter concerned is the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), whose day-to-day operations are independent from government control and influence. I have asked the FSA to write to the hon. Member on the issue he raises.

Banks: Regulation

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many visits  (a) he and  (b) Ministers in his Department have made to Brussels to discuss European banking regulation since 6 May 2010.

Mark Hoban: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has been to Brussels five times and I have been to Brussels twice to discuss, among other things, banking regulation.

Child Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of how many children aged  (a) four years and under,  (b) between five and nine years,  (c) between 10 and 16 years and  (d) over 16 years child benefit payments were being made on the latest date for which figures are available.

David Gauke: The latest information on the ages of children for whom Child Benefit is being received is available in the HMRC snapshot publication "Child Benefit Statistics Geographical Analysis. August 2009". This can be found at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/chb-geog-aug09.pdf

Child Benefit: Bolton

David Crausby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of households in Bolton North East constituency in receipt of child benefit who will no longer receive it as a result of his proposed changes.

David Gauke: Information on household income for child benefit claimants is not available at parliamentary constituency level.

Construction: Capital Investment

Simon Kirby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from representatives of the construction industry on access to development capital; and if he will make a statement.

Danny Alexander: Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations.

Departmental Manpower

Jesse Norman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the ages are of the 10 most senior members of staff in his Department.

David Gauke: The most senior staff in HM Treasury are the eight managing directors, including the permanent secretary and the second permanent secretary. Their ages are: 51, 41, 41, 52, 46, 61, 55 and 55 years. It is not possible to identify the official who is the next most senior.

Departmental Telephone Services

Angela Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the saving was to  (a) his Department and  (b) HM Revenue and Customs through the use of non-geographical telephone numbers in the financial year (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10; and what the estimated saving is for 2010-11.

David Gauke: The Treasury has two non-geographical telephone lines, which are provided to help staff who work remotely or who need to access business continuity information in the event of an emergency.
	Between 90 and 95% of customer telephone calls to HMRC are managed through the Department's centralised contact centre network. The Department receives no revenue through that network's use of non-geographical numbers. HMRC is aware that the cost of calling its helplines can be an issue for some of its customers. HMRC is in the process of carrying out an in depth review of its telephone numbering strategy, looking at ways to reduce the costs to customers while balancing the costs to HMRC and the performance of its contact centre network.
	The information on savings is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of the Equitable Members Action Group.

Mark Hoban: I have met with representative of the Equitable Members Action Group a number of times over the last few months, including prior to the spending review announcement in order to discuss their representation.
	I have also been informed the representatives of the Equitable Members Action Group have met with the Independent Commission on Equitable Life Payments to provide their views on allocation of the payments.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to ensure the provision of compensation for Equitable Life policyholders.

Mark Hoban: The Government have announced that £1.5 billion will be made available for the Equitable Life Payments Scheme. This includes covering the full cost of losses to with-profits annuitants who purchased their policies after 1 September 1992.
	The Independent Commission on Equitable Life Payments, which was established in July, will advise the Government on the allocation of payments among all policyholders, with the exception of with-profits annuitants. It is expected to submit its report in January 2011, so that the Government can meet their ambition of making first payments in the middle of next year.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money his Department set aside to compensate Equitable Life policyholders.

Mark Hoban: The Government have announced that £1.5 billion will be made available for the Equitable Life Payments Scheme. This includes covering the full cost of losses to With-Profits Annuitants who purchased their policies after 1 September 1992.

Excise Duties: Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Katy Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to maintain the duty differential for liquefied petroleum gas beyond 2015.

Justine Greening: The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review and decisions about tax policy are made in the round alongside all other priorities. This includes excise duty rates on road fuels.

Financial Services: Education

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will encourage banks in receipt of public funds to provide financial support to programmes that promote  (a) a savings culture and  (b) financial capability amongst young people.

Mark Hoban: The Consumer Financial Education Body (CFEB) was set up in April 2010 to improve understanding of financial matters among the general public and to enhance the ability of members of the public to manage their financial affairs. CFEB is funded by a levy on financial services firms, which includes banks in receipt of public funds.
	The Government are committed to creating conditions for higher levels of saving. They have asked CFEB to develop a financial health check, which will encourage people to take action across all aspects of their finances, including saving. The new service will launch in spring 2011.
	The Government recognise that some financial services firms support financial capability teaching in schools, helping to raise levels of financial capability among young people. Those banks who participated in the Bank Recapitalisation Fund agreed under the terms of their recapitalisations to support the expansion of financial capability.

Football: World Cup

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Barnett consequential was for  (a) Wales,  (b) Scotland and  (c) Northern Ireland of expenditure on Government support for the Football Association's bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018.

Danny Alexander: No additional allocations were made to Government Departments in respect of the Football Association's bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018, therefore any spending was from within existing CSR 2007 allocations. Those allocations would have attracted Barnett consequentials in the normal way.

Impact Assessments

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the merits of introducing inequality impact assessments on  (a) tax rises and  (b) public expenditure reductions; and if he will make a statement.

Justine Greening: holding answer 3 December 2010
	 The Treasury made a qualitative assessment of the likely impact of the spending review on different groups using the information that is currently available, and these assessments were considered when decisions were made. The Treasury published the document, "Overview of the Impact of Spending Review 2010 on Equalities" alongside the spending review announcement.
	The role of the Treasury in making decisions about public expenditure is to allocate resources to Departments. It is then up to Departments to decide how best to manage these resources. All Departments will consider the equalities impacts of the decisions made as a result of public expenditure reductions and make further assessments, in line with their legal obligations.
	Over the summer, HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs have worked with interested parties to develop the tax impact assessment, and in doing so have been mindful of the statutory duties on public bodies. The Government published their response to the consultation on 9 December, setting out the Government's plans for improving impact analysis for tax measures.

Income Tax

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was collected in higher rate income tax levied at  (a) 40% and  (b) 50% in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Gauke: Projections of income tax liabilities at the higher and additional rates of tax in 2010-11 are published on the HMRC website in table 2.6:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-6.pdf

Members: Correspondence

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham of 5 October 2010 undertaken by his Department to be answered on 28 October 2010.

Justine Greening: I have replied to the hon. Member.

Redundancy

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish his estimate of the number of public and private sector job reductions in  (a) Houghton and Sunderland South constituency,  (b) Sunderland,  (c) the North East of England and  (d) England between 2010 and 2015.

Danny Alexander: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was formed in May 2010 to make an independent assessment of the public finances and the economy.
	On 29 November 2010, the OBR released the official forecast for total employment and general Government employment, updated for the spending review announcements.
	As the OBR sets out in paragraph 3.98, page 62 of its "November 2010 Economic and fiscal outlook" (Cm 7979), it expects total employment to rise by 1.1 million over the next five years, from 29.0 million in 2010 to 30.1 million in 2015. General Government employment is projected to fall by just over 400,000 between 2010-11 and 2015-16, more than offset by a rise in market sector employment of around 1.5 million.
	The OBR has not published forecasts on a sub-national level.

Revenue and Customs: Finance

Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any HM Revenue and Customs unit will receive a net decrease in funding in 2011-12 compared to 2010-11 and previous years as a result of the outcome of the spending review.

David Gauke: Over the course of the spending review period HMRC will make savings of 25%, of which they will reinvest £900 million to tackle avoidance, evasion and fraud to bring in additional revenues of £7 billion a year by 2015.
	HMRC expects some of its directorates will receive a net decrease in funding in 2011-12 compared to 2010-11 but it is currently in the process of planning budget allocations and no final decisions have yet been taken.

Tax Avoidance and Evasion

Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of each unit within HM Revenue and Customs tasked to tackle tax  (a) avoidance and  (b) evasion; what estimate he has made of the amount of tax collected as a result of each such unit's activities in 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: HMRC do not collate their yield results in the manner requested. The additional tax liability (including penalties and interest) resulting from all HMRC compliance work in 2008-09 was £12 billion. HMRC data for 2009-10 are not yet available.
	The National Audit Office is due to publish a report in mid to late December on whether HMRC is managing its civil tax investigations efficiently and effectively. They will examine whether HMRC has an effective mechanism for referring investigations; manages civil investigations effectively; collects tax due from civil investigations promptly; and is proactive in maximising the impact of this activity.

Tax Avoidance: USA

David Blunkett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to take steps to prevent UK companies taken over by US-based concerns from transferring tax liability to holding companies outside UK jurisdiction.

David Gauke: The Government recognise the need for a sustainable corporate tax system and one element of this is proportionate and effective anti-avoidance rules to ensure that UK tax revenues are adequately protected.
	The Government recently published "Corporate Tax Reform: delivering a more competitive system" that brings together a significant programme of corporate tax reforms. This demonstrates the Government's commitment to a competitive and stable tax system that allows business to expand and invest in the UK.

Taxation: Private Rented Housing

Graham Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs has made of the  (a) level of outstanding,  (b) unassessed and  (c) undeclared tax liabilities by private landlords in each of the last four tax years; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: HMRC does not hold the information requested by the hon. Member.
	The self-assessment regime provides for liabilities to be returned and assessed by the taxpayer.
	However, the risk of potential loss of tax from private landlords was targeted by the National Property Project which ran between May 2007 and July 2010. The additional cumulative yield from 18,405 interventions settled to date is not split into separate years and totals £49.7 million. This figure is projected to reach £61 million once all inquiries from this project are concluded.

Taxation: Private Rented Housing

Graham Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many private landlords HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has identified as having completed tax returns incorrectly in each of the last four tax years; and what additional tax liability was assessed as a result of HMRC intervention in each year.

David Gauke: Inquiries into income tax self-assessment returns do not distinguish between private landlords and other taxpayers. However, the risk of potential loss of tax from private landlords was targeted by the National Property Project which ran between May 2007 and July 2010. The additional cumulative yield from 18,405 interventions settled to date is not split into separate years and totals £49.7 million. This figure is projected to reach £61 million once all inquiries from this project are concluded.

Taxation: Sports Competitors

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department's officials have had with UK Sport on the taxation of visiting sports professionals since 6 May 2010.

David Gauke: Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations as part of the process of policy development and delivery. It is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provision will be made for tax credits for pensioners with children when child tax credits are replaced by universal credit for people of working age.

Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
	The policy proposals relating to provision for pensioners with children will be developed to support the Welfare Reform Bill which we plan to introduce early in 2011.

VAT: Channel Islands

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of UK businesses based on the UK mainland that ship goods to UK mainland customers via the Channel Islands;
	(2)  if he will make an estimate of the likely effect of the rise in the rate of value added tax in January 2011 on the number of UK-based mail order businesses transferring operations to the Channel Islands.

David Gauke: No such estimates have been made.

VAT: Channel Islands

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps his Department has taken to comply with EU Directive 1983/181 in order to prevent abuse, evasion and avoidance in respect of low value consignment relief;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with the government of  (a) Jersey and  (b) Guernsey on low value consignment relief; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: HMRC challenges arrangements it believes to be abusive in all areas of the VAT system.
	My Department has been working closely with the authorities in Jersey and Guernsey on this issue, encouraging them to take action to limit the use of the Channel Islands by UK-based companies to secure VAT relief on imports to the UK and to restrain the activities of those companies already based there.

VAT: Registration

Grahame Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average length of time taken was to process new value added tax number applications from businesses located in  (a) England,  (b) Scotland,  (c) Wales and  (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last 12 months.

David Gauke: The following table shows the average length of time taken, in calendar days, to process Value Added Tax (VAT) registration applications in each of the 12 months from December 2009 to November 2010.
	
		
			   Days 
			 December 2009 20 
			 January 2010 28 
			 February 2010 19 
			 March 2010 19 
			 April 2010 17 
			 May 2010 18 
			 June 2010 21 
			 July 2010 23 
			 August 2010 15 
			 September 2010 16 
			 October 2010 18 
			 November 2010 19 
		
	
	HM Revenue and Customs operates a national registration service and so it is not possible to provide a geographical breakdown.

EDUCATION

Academies

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have applied to become academies  (a) nationally and  (b) in Milton Keynes.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 9 December 2010
	 As of 3 December 2010, 265 schools have applied nationally to convert to academy status of which two applications have been received from schools in Milton Keynes. We want many more schools to benefit from the freedoms and responsibilities of academy status and have recently opened the programme up to allow a much larger number of schools to apply.

British Council Language Teaching Assistantship Scheme

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he intends to announce his plans for the future funding of the British Council Language Teaching Assistantship scheme in England and Wales.

John Hayes: holding answer 22 November 2010
	The detail of budget allocations following the spending review is currently being worked through by Departments. We hope to be able to confirm the situation with regard to the Language Assistant Programme by the end of this year.

Children in Care

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in England were the subject of a care order, police protection order or emergency protection order or were placed for adoption at 31 March in each year from 1989 to 2010.

Tim Loughton: Information on the number of children subject to a care order, police protection order or emergency protection order at 31 March 2010 can found in the following table.
	
		
			  Children looked after at 31 March subject to a Care Order, Police Protection Order or Emergency Protection Order: Year ending 31 March 2010, coverage: England 
			  Legal status at 31 March 2010  Number 
			 Care Orders 38,200 
			 Police protection 40 
			 Emergency protection orders 50 
			  Notes: 1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000, and to the nearest 10, otherwise. 2. Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements.  Source:  SSDA903 
		
	
	The number of children who were placed for adoption at 31 March 1993 to 2010 is shown in the following table. It is not possible to extract a complete year's worth of data for the year ending 31 March 1992 as this is affected by the introduction of the Children Act 1989 on 14 October 1991. Information prior to 1992 is not available.
	
		
			  Children looked after at 31 March who were placed for adoption( 1,2,3) :( ) Years ending 31 March 1993 to 2010, coverage: England 
			   Total number placed for adoption 
			 1993(4) 2,400 
			 1994(4) 2,200 
			 1995(4) 2,200 
			 1996(4) 2,200 
			 1997(4) 2,400 
			 1998(5) 2,400 
			 1999(5) 3,000 
			 2000(5) 3,600 
			 2001(5) 4,000 
			 2002(5) 4,200 
			 2003(5) 3,700 
			 2004(4) 3,600 
			 2005(4) 3,400 
			 2006(4) 3,000 
			 2007(4) 2,700 
			 2008(4) 2,900 
			 2009(4) 2,700 
			 2010(4) 2,300 
			 (1) Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 100 as they exceed 1000. (2) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements. (3) Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials. (4) Figures are taken from the SSDA903 return which covered all children looked after. (5) Figures are derived from the SSDA903 one-third sample survey.  Source:  SSDA 903

Curriculum

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress he has made on his review of the national curriculum; when he expects the review to conclude; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: We will be announcing full details of the review of the national curriculum shortly. Once the review is launched, we plan to consult widely and then announce our new curriculum in 2012, which will give schools a full academic year to prepare for implementation from September 2013.

Curriculum

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in each local education authority taught lessons in (i) social and emotional aspects of learning and (ii) the UK Resilience Programme in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 2 December 2010
	The Department does not collect data on the number of primary and secondary schools in each local authority that are taught lessons in social and emotional aspects of learning. According to the National Strategies' data, approximately 90% of primary and 64% of secondary schools were involved in developing approaches to social and emotional skills in 2009.
	The UK Resilience Programme (UKRP) started as a pilot programme in September 2007 aimed at Year 7 pupils in 22 secondary schools across three local authorities: Hertfordshire, Manchester and South Tyneside. As of September 2010, 41 secondary schools in Hertfordshire; eight in South Tyneside and 11 in Manchester have teachers delivering the programme to Year 7 pupils. The programme is not designed for primary age children.
	From September 2010, nine schools in a further seven local authorities started to teach the UKRP to their Year 7 pupils. They are: two in Gloucestershire, two in Sandwell, one in Barnet, one in Ealing, one in Luton, one in Sefton, and one in Trafford.

Curriculum: Reviews

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when his Department plans to publish its Curriculum Review; and whether it will be subject to public consultation.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 29 November 2010
	Details of our plans to review the national curriculum will be announced shortly. We intend that the review process will be open and transparent and can confirm that we will be consulting widely, including launching a public call for evidence.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what grants have been awarded by his Department in 2010-11 to date; what grants he plans to award in each of the next two years; what the monetary value is of each such grant; and to which organisations such grants are made.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 18 November 2010
	A summary of the grants to be awarded by DfE in 2010-11, drawn from the Main Departmental Estimate, is set out in Table 1.
	At the start of 2010-11, the Department had approximately 230 grant streams of different sizes. The following table shows that around £14 billion went to our non-departmental public bodies and around £37 billion went to local authorities, the largest component being the dedicated schools grant (DSG). Smaller amounts went to the voluntary and community sector, the private sector, and other public sector organisations.
	Details of the Department's monthly spend, including grants, wherever the payments are more than £25,000 each month, is available from the Department's website. Details of the Department's expenditure over the next two years are still being considered and will be announced in due course, including the pupil premium for the most deprived pupils.
	
		
			  Table 1: Information on grants to be awarded by DfE in 2010-11 
			  £ million 
			   Current  Capital 
			  Request for Resource 1-covering most departmental spend except Sure Start   
			
			  Central Government spend   
			 Schools 2,056 - 
			 Children and families 896 - 
			 Youth 982 - 
			 Other 13 - 
			
			  Support for LAs   
			 Schools 3,799 6 
			 DSG 31,891 - 
			 Children and families 426 16 
			 Area based grant 918 - 
			
			  Grant in Aid to NDPBs   
			 Schools 5,992 - 
			 Children and families 170 - 
			 Youth 7,756 - 
		
	
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Current  Capital 
			  Request for Resource 2-Sure Start and Early Years   
			
			  Central Government spend   
			 Children and Families 39 - 
			
			  Support for LAs   
			 Children and Families 1,536 315 
			
			  Grant in aid to NDPBs   
			 Children and Families 0  
			 Total (current and capital) 56,812 - 
			  Note:  All values are rounded to the nearest million.   Source: Data are taken from the 2010-11 Main Estimate.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on what date his Department informed administrators of the www.direct.gov website that young people currently in receipt of education maintenance allowance (EMA) will continue to receive it for the rest of this academic year but will not receive it next academic year; what information he provided to that website in respect of EMA; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 1 December 2010
	This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operates the education maintenance allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, has written to the hon. Member for Wigan with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	 Letter from Peter Lauener, dated 7 December 2010:
	One of the responsibilities delegated by the Secretary of State to the Young People's Learning Agency is to maintain the Direct.gov.uk website on behalf of the Department for Education in respect of EMA and all other learner support schemes. The Direct.gov.uk website was updated on 27 October with this statement:
	"EMA will close to new applicants from January 2011. Learner support funds will be available through schools, colleges and training providers to help students who most need it to continue in learning. If you currently get EMA you will continue to receive it for the rest of this academic year, but you will not receive it next academic year."
	The information in this Direct.gov.uk statement about eligibility and cut-off dates was confirmed in discussion with the Department for Education in the days immediately following the Spending Review announcement and was also made available to the call centre which deals with direct enquiries about EMA.

Education: Assessments

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to his Department's Business Plan for November 2010, when he plans to publish impact indicators on readiness to progress to the next stage of schooling at ages 5 and 11; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: The impact and input indicators published earlier this month were in draft form. We will be consulting on these further between now and January and will be finalising their definitions and the method by which they will be calculated for March. Currently we envisage using existing sources of data for these impact indicators of readiness to progress. The precise timing of data releases and publication of indicators will be confirmed by this work.

EU Law

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many EU directives are pending transposition into domestic legislation by his Department; and what estimate he has made of the cost of each such transposition.

Tim Loughton: There are no EU directives currently pending transposition into domestic legislation by the Department for Education. The policy remit of the Department falls mostly outside of the sphere of Community competence and the Department is therefore unlikely to be the lead Department for transposition of any EU directives.

Free Schools

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance he has issued to officials in his Department on the processing of new applications to open free schools in cases in which the applicant is a religious or faith-based group; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 8 November 2010
	No guidance has been issued to officials relating specifically to processing free school applications from religious or faith-based groups. The Department will conduct due diligence checks on all groups and individuals affiliated with a free school proposal, to ensure that they are suitable to conduct a publicly funded school. These checks apply equally to applicants from religious or faith-based groups and to others.

Free Schools

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many expressions of interest in establishing free schools he has received from  (a) groups and  (b) individuals.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education does not hold, collect or receive details about expressions of interest for Free Schools. The point at which the Department receives formal notice of applications is when groups put in a proposal form. To date, the Department has received over 180 proposals to set up Free Schools. Due to the complexity of some of these proposals, we are unable to categorise them all as group-led or individual-led, although the vast majority are from groups.

Free Schools

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will put in place mechanisms for public scrutiny of the financial backing of individuals and organisations who are involved in setting up free schools.  [Official Report, 31 January 2011, Vol. 522, c. 5MC.]

Nick Gibb: Once a Free School proposal is approved to progress to business case and plan stage, the main elements of the proposal forms will be put on the Department's website. We will redact personal information to comply with obligations under the Data Protection Act, and other information where we have judged that commercial interests would be prejudiced should we publish the proposal in full.
	The Department will conduct due diligence checks, including financial checks, on companies and individuals associated with a proposed Free School. The vast majority of proposers to date are not associated with or supported by third party organisations.
	Once a Free School is established, the Academy Trust will be required to publish annual accounts in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. These accounts will be available on the Charity Commission website.

Further Education: Student Numbers

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of young people participated in post-16 education  (a) in Bristol East constituency,  (b) in Bristol,  (c) in the South West and  (d) nationally in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: Estimates of participation in education and training for young people in each local authority (LA) in England are published by the Department in a Statistical First Release (SFR) each June. The full SFR can be found on the Department's website:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000938/index.shtml
	Figures are aggregated from LAs to regions and England and are available from 1994 onwards. The figures cannot be disaggregated to parliamentary constituency level. The latest figures, for end 2008, show that an estimated 100% of young people of academic age 16 (usually those in their first year after compulsory education) in the city of Bristol LA were in some form of education or work based learning (WBL) at the end of 2008. The full time-series is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Participation in education and work based learning (WBL) of academic age 16-year-olds 
			  Percentage 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 City of Bristol 88 92 90 88 100 
			 South West 85 86 87 87 91 
			 England 85 86 87 88 91 
		
	
	Note that it is possible in some circumstances for estimates of participation in some LAs to reach, and even exceed, 100%. This is because the numerator (participation in education) and denominator (population) come from different data sources. For the most part the participation and population data are consistent and young people are assigned to the LA in which they are resident. An exception is participation in independent schools, where learner residence data are not collated nationally. An assumption is made that young people participating in independent schools live in the LA that the school is located. This will tend to inflate participation estimates for LAs with both an untypically high number of independent schools and where cross border flows of independent school pupils between LAs are common.
	The city of Bristol is one such LA, with 16% of academic age 16-year-olds participating through independent schools compared to 6% nationally.

GCSE and BTEC

Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people aged 16 years from each socio-economic group he expects to sit  (a) GCSE and  (b) BTEC examination in the 2010-11 academic year.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 1 December 2010
	The Department does not hold information on the number of pupils from different socio-economic groups that are entered for different qualifications. It is therefore not possible to estimate the number of people from each group that are expected to sit GCSEs and BTECs at age 16.
	However, some information from the Youth Cohort Study and Longitudinal Study of Young People in England about the achievement of GCSEs by socio-economic group is available from the following link:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SBU/b000795/index.shtml
	table 4.1.1 and 4.1.2.
	Information on GCSE attainment by Income Deprivation Affecting Children Indices (IDACI) is available from the following link:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000909/index.shtml
	table 18.

Grammar Schools

Nadhim Zahawi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to make legislative provision for the selective status of grammar schools which change to academy status.

Nick Gibb: We have ensured that, when maintained grammar schools convert to become academies, the schools and local parents retain the same rights and safeguards they had prior to conversion. Sections 6(3) and 6(4) of the Academies Act 2010 ensure that grammar schools may continue to select by ability on conversion.

Mathematics: Primary Education

Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department issued on the number of hours per week in which mathematics is taught at primary school in  (a) 1997 and  (b) the last three years.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 1 December 2010
	No guidance has been issued by the Department for Education on the number of hours per week in which mathematics is taught in primary schools in any of the years in question, although the National Numeracy Strategy, and then the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority jointly with the National Numeracy Strategy, published guidance in 1999 and 2002 respectively, which reflected the previous Government's policies. This Government believes it should be for each primary school to organise its curriculum to include the programmes of study for mathematics including decisions about how much time to devote to teaching this subject.

National Commissioning Framework

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for consultation on replacement arrangements for the national commissioning framework.

Nick Gibb: The Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) has a statutory duty to issue guidance to local authorities on the performance of their duty to secure that enough suitable education and training is provided for young people, and to consult on the production of that guidance.
	The YPLA has been working closely with local authority representative bodies and a range of other partners to develop new statutory guidance. This will replace the National Commissioning Framework which was withdrawn earlier this year. The new statutory guidance will be published before Christmas and will inform the allocations process for the academic year 2011/12, based on decisions that Ministers have made about the simplification of the system for funding young people's education. Alongside this publication, there will be a full public consultation on the statutory guidance to inform the allocations process for 2012/13.

Pupils: Asthma

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to issue new guidance to schools for the purpose of ensuring the effective management of pupils'  (a) asthma and  (b) other long-term health conditions.

Nick Gibb: I refer my hon. Friend to the response given on 29 November 2010,  Official Report, column 530VV, which explains that the Secretary of State for Education is planning to issue new guidance to schools for the purpose of ensuring the effective management of pupils'  (a) asthma and  (b) other long-term health conditions.

Pupils: Bullying

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to issue advice to  (a) teachers,  (b) schools and  (c) local authorities on the extent of their responsibilities in relation to bullying which takes place outside school hours and outside schools between pupils of different schools.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 30 November 2010
	 Tackling bullying is a top priority for this coalition Government. Teachers, pupils and charities report that prejudice-based bullying in particular is increasing.
	That is why our Schools White Paper, "The Importance of Teaching", highlighted the importance of tackling incidents of homophobic and prejudice-based bullying. We want schools to educate children about the differences between different groups of people and create a culture of respect and understanding.
	As bullying also takes place outside of school. We will revise existing statutory guidance on behaviour in order to strengthen head teachers' authority to tackle pupils who misbehave beyond the boundaries of the school.
	The Department will radically reduce the existing 481 pages of guidance for schools on bullying to ensure it is readable and used by schools.

Pupils: Disability

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to promote disability awareness among students in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 3 December 2010
	The current Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education framework for both primary and secondary schools provides an opportunity for teachers to raise awareness of disability issues amongst their pupils. The programmes of study include learning about identifying and respecting the differences between people, including those with disabilities. Pupils are taught about the effects of all types of stereotyping and discrimination, how to challenge them assertively and ways of working cooperatively with a range of people who are different from themselves.

School Sport Partnerships: Finance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department has issued guidance to school sport partnerships on the identification of alternative funding sources from April 2011.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 29 November 2010
	At the end of October, the Department authorised grant payments to school sport partnerships covering their work up to the end of February 2011. At that time, partnerships were told that the Department would be writing to them about the conditions attached to that grant and about funding beyond February 2011. We intend to write to partnerships shortly about this. We have issued no guidance to partnerships about possible alternative sources of funding. As a result of the spending review, schools' overall budgets will not be reduced but will increase by £3.6 billion in cash terms by 2014-15, the end of the next spending review period.

Schools: Asbestos

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of school  (a) staff and  (b) children affected by an asbestos-related illness in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
	No research evidence is available on which to base such estimates for either school staff or pupils.
	However, deaths from the cancer, mesothelioma, which is the main and most serious of the asbestos related diseases, can be regarded as an indicator of risk from exposure to asbestos. There is strong evidence that this disease is usually a consequence of heavy past occupational exposure to airborne asbestos fibres, although sometimes it is linked to exposure in a domestic setting. There is no evidence to say whether or not any of the remaining cases where there is no recognised cause may have been due to exposures in schools at a time when asbestos was in widespread use as a building material.
	The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) tracks all deaths in Great Britain where mesothelioma has been recorded as a cause. HSE's periodical analyses of these deaths by occupation show that mesothelioma does occur among those whose last occupation is recorded as a teacher. The most recently available analyses by occupational group are for deaths during 2002-05. Among those aged 16 to 74-the ages for which occupation is reliably coded-there were 53 male deaths and 23 female deaths among those whose last occupation was recorded as a teacher. In statistical terms these numbers are broadly in line with the average for all occupations. Teachers do not stand out as a higher risk group.
	Of those deaths involving teachers it is not possible to say whether any are a result of asbestos exposure during the course of their work in schools as it can take decades for the disease to develop after exposure and the cause may lie in other jobs earlier in life or in non-occupational activities.
	A recent, detailed, independent epidemiological study of mesothelioma in Britain conducted by Professor Julian Peto supports the conclusion that teachers are not a higher risk group. This study showed that the risk for those who had carried out at least five years work as a teacher or school worker, and had never worked in jobs classified as higher risk, was statistically no different from that for individuals who had only ever done office work.

Schools: Cumbria

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools there are in each parliamentary constituency in Cumbria in respect of which no other school for pupils of the same age range is located within a four mile radius.

Nick Gibb: The following table provides the information requested.
	
		
			  Numbers of schools with no other school for the same age range located within a four mile radius by parliamentary constituency in Cumbria, 2010-11 
			   Maintained primary schools( 1)  Maintained secondary schools( 2) 
			  Parliamentary constituency  Total  Schools with no other school for the same age range within a four mile radius( 3)  Total  Schools with no other school for the same age range within a four mile radius( 3) 
			 Barrow and Furness 42 0 5 1 
			 Carlisle 30 0 5 0 
			 Copeland 45 2 5 2 
			 Penrith and the Border 64 5 7 5 
			 Westmorland and Lonsdale 43 3 8 6 
			 Workington 50 5 7 4 
			 (1) Includes infant schools, junior schools and primary schools. (2) Includes academies. (3) The four mile radius includes schools located in neighbouring local authorities.  Source: Edubase 25 November 2010

Schools: Governing Bodies

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on the appointment of school governors.

Nick Gibb: Guidance on the appointment and election of school governors in maintained schools is contained in "The Statutory Guidance on the Constitution of School Governing Bodies" which is available at:
	www.governornet.co.uk/publishArticle.cfm?contentId=1342
	There is no guidance which is sent specifically to local authorities.

Schools: Gravesham

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children of each nationality have attended schools in Gravesham in each of the past 10 years.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 6 December 2010
	The Department does not collect information on the nationality of pupils in schools.

Schools: Health Education

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to consult parents on the proposals in his schools White Paper on personal, sexual and health education; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 6 December 2010
	As set out in our White Paper, The Importance of Teaching, the Coalition Government wants all children and young people to receive high quality Personal Social Health and Economic (PSHE) education. Further details on the internal review of PSHE education, including who will be consulted, will be announced in the new year.

Schools: Inspections

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many formal appeals in respect of the outcome of an Ofsted inspection were brought by schools in each of the last five years; and how many such appeals were  (a) upheld,  (b) partially upheld and  (c) rejected in each such year.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of her letter has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 17 November 2010:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
	I have set out the information requested in a table at the end of this letter.
	Schools cannot make 'formal appeals' in respect of the outcome of Ofsted inspections but can make complaints about inspection judgments. The table details complaints made by schools about any school inspection judgment following inspections carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. The table includes information for each financial year since April 2006, The total number of inspections in each of the years is included to provide some context. Because of their nature, the outcomes for complaints investigations regarding inspection judgments are either upheld or not; we do not partially uphold complaints about inspection judgments.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for Schools, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.
	
		
			  Section 5 school inspection complaints data 
			  Period  Number of school inspections( 1)  Number of complaints about judgments for inspections of schools( 1)  As a percentage of number of inspections  Number of upheld complaints about judgments for inspections of schools( 1)  As a percentage of number of complaints  Upheld complaints about judgments as a percentage of number of school inspections 
			 1 April 2006 to  31 March 2007 7,682 161 2.1 16 9.9 0.2 
			 1 April 2007 to  31 March 2008 7,692 212 2.8 29 13.7 0.4 
			 1 April 2008 to  31 March 2009 7,086 186 2.6 20 10.8 0.3 
			 1 April 2009 to  31 March 2010 6,333 250 3.9 29 11.6 0.5 
			 1 April 2010 to  30 September 2010(2) 2,685 151 5.6 21 13.9 0.8 
			 (1 )This includes inspections of academies. (2) Please note that this is only six months' data.

Schools: North East

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department plans to provide for schools in  (a) North West Durham constituency and  (b) the North East in each of the next five years.

Nick Gibb: The Department expects to announce the school funding allocations for 2011-12 by the end of the year. We made it clear in our school funding consultation earlier this year that our longer-term aim is to bring in a simpler, more transparent and fairer funding system, and to help reduce the funding differences between similar schools in different areas. (Consultation on School Funding 2011-12, July 2010). Our White Paper, 'The Importance of Teachers', explains that it will hold full and detailed consultations on school funding changes for 2012-13 and beyond.

Schools: Sports

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what schools which are members of School Sports Partnerships each Minister in his Department has visited since their appointment; what assessment was made of the work of each of those institutions; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 1 December 2010
	All maintained schools in England are part of the network of school sport partnerships. This includes all of the many schools that Ministers in the Department for Education have visited since May 2010. These visits will have been for a range of purposes: to see examples of good practice; to meet and talk to students and staff; and to witness schools in action at first hand. The purpose of these visits is quite categorically not to make assessments of these institutions; that is the role of Ofsted.

Schools: Sports

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what specialist sports schools and colleges he has visited since his appointment; what assessment was made of the work of each of those institutions; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 1 December 2010
	Since May 2010, the Secretary of State for Education has visited three schools with a specialism in sport: Harefield Academy in Hillingdon, City of London Academy in Southwark and Consett Community Sports College in Durham. The Secretary of State was very impressed with what he saw, as he is when he visits many schools in England. In particular, he was impressed with the way the schools were making maximum use of the freedoms afforded to them by their academy status to improve provision for their pupils, both within their sport specialism and across the whole curriculum.

Schools: Transport

Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding Walton High School, Milton Keynes, received from his Department towards its School Travel Plan in 2010-11; and how much such funding it will receive in each of the next three years.

Nick Gibb: Walton High School, Milton Keynes, submitted an approved school travel plan for the year ended March 2010. Due to a review of all capital budgets within the Department no school travel plan grants have been paid. We shall notify all schools of the outcome once final decisions have been taken following the capital review.

Science: GCSE

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 27 July 2010,  Official Report, column 1228W, on Science: GCSE, when he expects to complete his assessment of the action needed to ensure that all schools offer the possibility for students to study three separate science subjects at GCSE level.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 29 November 2010
	The Schools White Paper 2010, 'The Importance of Teaching', confirmed the importance the Government place on making the study of the three separate science subjects at GCSE accessible to all pupils. This includes exploring how schools delivering triple science might be recognised in the performance tables; the need to increase the number of specialist science teachers, for example, by providing financial incentives to attract the best graduates in shortage subjects such as the sciences into teaching; and improving the skills of existing science teachers. The level of support the Government will provide to enable wider participation in the three separate sciences at GCSE level is still subject to the more detailed outcome of the spending review and we will announce our plans as soon as that is finalised.

Special Educational Needs

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the  (a) level of availability and  (b) standard of educational provision for children with special educational needs in (i) South Thanet constituency and (ii) England.

Sarah Teather: Planning and making appropriate provision to meet the needs of children with SEN is the responsibility of local authorities, such information is not held centrally by the Department for Education. Section 14 of the Education Act 1996 places a duty on a local authority to provide sufficient schools in number and character to ensure appropriate education for pupils with special educational needs. School organisation and special educational provision are matters for local consultation and determination, and where there are disagreements, they may be referred to the independent schools adjudicator for consideration and are not ones in which the Government can intervene.
	I am publishing a Green Paper to look at the wide range of issues concerning provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities. To inform this important work, I issued a call for views and have met parents, teachers, local authorities, charities and other groups. The call for views attracted over 1,800 responses from a wide range of people and organisations. In order to give those views the most careful consideration, I will be publishing the Green Paper in February 2011.

Timber

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the compliance of  (a) his Department and  (b) its non-departmental public bodies with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's criteria for sourcing sustainable timber.

Tim Loughton: The Department of Education includes in all appropriate contracts where the supply of timber may be used, clauses governing the legal use of timber as defined in the UK Government Timber Procurement Policy-definition of 'legal' and 'sustainable' for timber procurement and contained within CPET (Central Point of Expertise on Timber).
	Under these clauses, contractors are obliged to obtain documentary evidence that the timber and wood derived products is legal timber and if requested, shall supply this evidence to the Department.

Aimhigher Programme

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will bring forward proposals to provide transitional funding in academic year 2011-12 for the period between the end of the Aim Higher programme and the introduction of the new access commitments by universities and the new National Scholarship Fund.

David Willetts: I have been asked to reply.
	The arrangements for new access agreements and the £150 million National Scholarship Programme are being introduced to coincide with the new funding arrangements for students in 2012.
	Universities, schools and colleges have learned much from Aimhigher about "what works". Universities already use this to inform their own outreach activities covered by existing access agreements, agreed with the Office for Fair Access, and the widening participation strategic assessments they submit to HEFCE. Helping young people find out about higher education is a normal part of what schools do and schools will receive additional support through the pupil premium from April 2011. In this context we have concluded transitional funding is unnecessary.
	The National Scholarship Programme will form part of a package of measures to support disadvantaged young people through their education, including the introduction of the £2.5 billion pupil premium in April 2011, that will help to encourage young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply to Higher Education.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

2017 World Athletics Championship

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the potential contribution to the economy of the UK hosting the 2017 World Athletics Championship;
	(2)  whether his Department has undertaken a cost-benefit analysis of providing guarantees to UK Athletics for its bid to host the 2017 World Athletics Championship.

Hugh Robertson: In conjunction with UK Athletics and Visit London, UK Sport commissioned a feasibility study into bidding for and hosting a World Athletics Championships. That study contained an estimate of the economic impact of the event, based on UK Sport's eventIMPACTS methodology, totalling £102.6 million.
	Preparatory work is under way on assessing the level and cost of likely guarantees required for a bid, however, detailed assessments will begin once the IAAF release their bidding requirements for 2017.

Archery

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many competitive archery venues there are in England.

Hugh Robertson: This Department does not hold the information requested.
	Additionally, Sport England has spoken with the National Governing Body for Archery who stated that they also do not collect the data in the manner it has been requested.

Athletics

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many athletics tracks suitable for  (a) national and  (b) international competitors there are in each local authority area in England.

Hugh Robertson: According to UK Athletics, the minimum number of lanes required for national and international track competition is eight.
	Sport England's Active Places website shows that there are a total of 124 floodlit athletics tracks with eight lanes across the country.

Cinemas: Listed Buildings

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many  (a) cinemas and  (b) theatres have had listed building status removed as a result of a submission to his Department in the last 10 years.

John Penrose: English Heritage has advised us that in the last 10 years, four cinemas and one theatre have been delisted.

Departmental Conferences

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his Department's annual budget for conferences was on  (a) 7 May 2010 and  (b) 7 December 2010.

John Penrose: The Department does not hold a separate budget specifically for conferences. The budget for conferences is included within the Department's wider hospitality budget which includes internal hospitality, conferences and committees. This budget at May 2010 was £162,478.00, and in December 2010 it stood at £120,484.00.
	Following the formation of the new Government and the resulting spending review, the Department announced an intention to reduce administration costs by 50% by 2014-15. As part of this budget reduction all administration costs across the Department are subject to review, including those for hosting conferences.

Digital Broadcasting: Wales

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of digital switchover as a means of improving reception in  (a) Wrexham and  (b) Wales.

Edward Vaizey: Switchover extended reliable coverage of digital terrestrial services from a predicted 57% of Welsh households before switchover to an estimated 97.8% today. In addition, the number of households predicted to be able to receive digital TV is slightly greater than the number formerly able to receive the four main analogue channels. Further details of coverage predictions can be found on the Ofcom fact sheet on coverage No. 3
	http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/tv-research/dsoind/factsheets/
	There are no specific figures for predicted coverage in Wrexham. However, most viewers in the town should be able to receive signals from at least one of the main Winter Hill and Wrexham Rhos relay transmitters.
	Detailed predictions of coverage from each transmitter at specific postcodes is available at
	www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker/
	and a local RDI (Registered Digital Installers) or CAI (Confederation of Aerial Industries) accredited aerial installer would be able to offer further advice on the practicalities of reception from multiple transmitters.

Football: World Cup

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of Government support for the Football Association's bid to host the FIFA World cup in 2018.

Hugh Robertson: The Government did not contribute any funding directly to the bid to host the 2018 World cup.
	Ministers made a number of visits in support of the bid, and the cost of these are currently being collated.
	Government officials also worked in developing technical and wider aspects of the bid for the Football Association, however, precise details of this can be calculated only at a disproportionate cost.

IAAF World Athletics Championship

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which stadiums in England his Department has assessed as being of a standard to host an IAAF World Athletics Championship.

Hugh Robertson: There are currently no athletics stadia in England with the permanent facilities and capacity required to host a World Athletics Championships.
	The feasibility of potential venues, including the Olympic Stadium once its future use is determined, will be assessed.

Internet: Further Education

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he plans to issue guidance to further education colleges on their classification as  (a) an internet service provider,  (b) a subscriber and  (c) a communications provider under the provisions of the Digital Economy Act 2010.

Edward Vaizey: I have been asked to reply 
	in my capacity as a Minister in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Ofcom will shortly be publishing the code of practice heralded by the Digital Economy Act 2010, which will set out the initial obligations to tackle the online infringement of copyright. We expect the code to make clear the classification and requirements under the Act of internet service providers, subscribers and communications providers. Therefore, we have no plans at present to issue guidance specifically targeted at further education colleges with relation to the initial obligations. We remain confident that the initial obligations will not cause undue difficulties for further education colleges.

Internet: Regulation

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the cost to  (a) further education colleges,  (b) universities and  (c) public libraries of implementing the provisions of the Digital Economy Act 2010.

Edward Vaizey: I have been asked to reply 
	in my capacity as a Minister in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	We remain confident that the implementation of the online infringement of copyright provisions in the Digital Economy Act 2010 will not cause undue difficulties for further education colleges, universities, public libraries or other premises offering wireless internet access. Therefore, we have made no estimate of the costs specifically incurred to these institutions of implementing the provisions of the Act. Ofcom will shortly be publishing the code of practice which is required to set out the details of the initial obligations heralded by the Act. The Government recognise that clarification is needed for wi-fi service providers, and we have indicated that this is an area which we expect the code to cover. The Government do not anticipate agreeing a code which does not take proper account of the position of wi-fi providers, such as further education colleges, universities and public libraries.
	In the meantime, there are simple and proportionate steps such bodies can adopt to prevent infringement on their networks. Many already do so and, in many cases, their activities to prevent infringement already go far beyond what the Act requires.

Libraries: Membership

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he plans to bring forward proposals to provide for library membership from birth.

Edward Vaizey: It is for local authorities to decide what library services their communities need and to allocate their budgets accordingly. We will not constrain local government by pursuing the spending commitment to promote library membership as an entitlement from birth, which was set out by the previous government in the Public Library Modernisation Review Policy statement published in March 2010.
	With or without this promotional activity, public libraries across the country continue to make a valuable contribution to early years learning.

Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what consultation he has had with trade unions representing staff of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council  (a) prior and  (b) subsequent to announcing its abolition;
	(2)  what requests for meetings he has received from trade unions representing staff of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council subsequent to announcing its abolition.

Edward Vaizey: The Secretary of State did not consult with trade unions representing staff in the Museums, Libraries and Archives council (MLA) prior or subsequently to the abolition announcement.
	Since the decision the MLA has had ongoing meetings and regular dialogue with the recognised trade union, Prospect, and in addition kept staff up to date to the best of its knowledge on the Government's intentions for delivering MLA functions in the future. In addition, on 1 December MLA placed all its employees formally 'At Risk' of redundancy and started a four-month period of formal consultation with staff and trade unions to enable it to reach final decisions as to the future of its staff.
	I have received one request for a meeting with Prospect.

Olympic Games

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which Olympic sport has the fewest venues for participative competition  (a) with and  (b) without spectator provision in England; and how many such venues there are.

Hugh Robertson: This information is not held by the Department, or its arm's length body, Sport England.

Olympic Games

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many people in England participated in each  (a) Olympic and  (b) Paralympic sport in 2009.

Hugh Robertson: The Sport England Active People Survey 3 shows those participants engaged in Olympic sport in 2009.
	Due to the low levels of participation in Paralympic sports, we are not able to provide reliable estimates for participation in 2009.
	
		
			  Olympic sport( 1)  Paralympic sport included  Number participating once a week( 2)  Number participating once a month( 3) 
			 Archery - (4)- 58,600 
			 Athletics Paralympic athletics 1,739,700 2,670,500 
			 Badminton - 539,400 991,800 
			 Basketball - 193,100 333,200 
			 Boxing - 121,400 162,900 
			 Canoeing and Kayaking - 62,900 146,500 
			 Cycling Paralympic cycling 1,880,000 3,884,100 
			 Equestrian Paralympic equestrian 341,500 425,900 
			 Fencing Wheelchair fencing 12,200 20,200 
			 Football Paralympic football 2,122,700 3,106,600 
			 Gymnastics - 48,300 99,000 
			 Handball - - - 
			 Hockey - 95,700 154,600 
			 Judo Paralympic judo 15,100 16,500 
			 Modern Pentathlon - (4)- (4)- 
			 Rowing Paralympic rowing 49,000 99,100 
			 Sailing Paralympic sailing 83,000 175,000 
			 Shooting Paralympic shooting (4)- 109,400 
			 Swimming Paralympic swimming 3,162,400 5,500,800 
			 Table Tennis - 85,500 195,400 
			 Taekwondo - 27,000 35,000 
			 Tennis - 530,200 987,400 
			 Triathlon - (4)- (4)- 
			 Volleyball Volleyball - sitting 39,200 71,000 
			 Weightlifting Powerlifting 116,000 172,700 
			 (1) The Active People Survey only identifies separate participation figures for some paralympic sports. The table indicates those sports where figures for the paralympic sport are included within the Olympic sport total. Where separate paralympic sports are identified the survey received insufficient responses to provide robust estimates of participation. (2) Once per week participation is based on the number of people who have taken part four times in the last 28 days for 30 minutes at moderate intensity. (3) Once per month participation is based on the number of people who have taken part in the sport at all in the last 28 days. (4) Insufficient sample size to provide robust estimates of participation.

Olympic Games 2012

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington of 26 October 2010,  Official Report, column 173W, on Olympics: sporting legacy, over what period of time and in respect of which  (a) sports and  (b) age groups he proposes to seek to reverse the decline in competitive sport; and against what criteria he proposes to measure progress on this objective.

Hugh Robertson: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is in close discussions with the Department for Education about competitive sport in schools and we are working to ensure this fits with the new Government approach to school sports, that being to give schools more autonomy and reducing centrally determined objectives.
	As part of this objective we are introducing a new School Sport Competition in 2011 which should see levels of competition increase, but most importantly the competition should appeal to a wide range of young people of different tastes and abilities.
	Sport England's mass participation legacy plan Places People Play will bring the sporting legacy to life in communities across the country to deliver a sustainable increase in adult participation for the games and beyond by improving local sports facilities and by getting more people involved in grassroots sporting activities and in Olympic and Paralympic sports.
	For example, as part of the Places People Play programme, Sportivate, which will be launched in April 2011 and run until March 2015, is designed to capture the excitement of London 2012 and provide attractive sporting opportunities for young people aged between 14 and 25. Those involved will be given six weeks coaching at a local venue and provided with guidance on places and people they can continue to compete with.
	Adult participation in sport will continue to be measured by Sport England's Active People Survey.

S4C

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has to meet hon. Members representing constituencies in Wales to discuss governance arrangements for S4C.

Edward Vaizey: The Government are committed to the future of Welsh language programming and to the future of S4C as a strong and independent Welsh TV service. Welsh MPs have already made representations to DCMS Ministers about the future governance arrangements for S4C and a wide range of interested parties will be consulted in the future.

Schools Sports Partnerships

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which Schools Sports Partnerships  (a) he and  (b) Ministers in his Department have visited since 6 May 2010.

Hugh Robertson: In my capacity as Minister for Sport and the Olympics, I visited Eltham Green School Sport Partnership in June as part of National School Sport Week. I have also visited two schools, Ling Bob Junior and Sacred Heart, which are part of the Brooksbank and Burnage School Sport Partnerships respectively. I have also visited a number of School Sport Partnerships in my own constituency as part of the Kent School Games.
	Additionally, the Secretary of State met with School Sports Partnerships at a round-table event he hosted in July during National School Sport Week, and we have both met with Steve Grainger, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust, on a number of occasions to discuss related issues.

Sport: Cycling

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what venues there are in England for international competition-standard BMX biking;
	(2)  how many velodromes there are in England.

Hugh Robertson: Neither this Department or Sport England hold the information requested.

Sports

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how much revenue accrued to the Exchequer from foreign sports professionals visiting the UK in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what the three highest revenue-generating sports were in 2009; and how much was generated from foreign professionals in those sports visiting the UK in that year.

David Gauke: I have been asked to reply.
	Revenue from visiting foreign sports professionals is not distinguished from that of visiting foreign entertainers in HMRC records. The information requested could therefore be obtained only through the examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.

Tourism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has to increase the competitiveness of the UK tourist industry.

John Penrose: We shall increase the competitiveness of the UK tourist industry by raising standards and productivity through VisitEngland working closely with local destination management organisations. By responding to customer feedback, we shall also improve the welcome shown to foreign visitors, supply them with better customer information and signage, and raise staff and management skills. We shall also cut red tape and regulations that burden tourism businesses.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Aimhigher Programme

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  whether the functions of Aimhigher will continue to be undertaken in 2011-12;
	(2)  what mechanisms will be put in place to assist the schools supported by Aimhigher to help their low-income pupils go on to higher education in the next four years; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: holding answer 7 December 2010
	This Government have been very clear about the importance of widening participation and improving fair access in higher education-all those with the ability should have access to higher education irrespective of family income.
	We are establishing a new framework with increased responsibility on universities to widen participation. We are also introducing the National Scholarship Programme which will form part of a package of measures to support disadvantaged young people through their education, including the introduction of the £2.5 billion pupil premium in April 2011 that will help to encourage young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply to higher education.
	Universities, schools and colleges have learned much from Aimhigher about what works, and activities to help young people find out about higher education are a normal part of what schools do. Higher education institutions will build on this knowledge and continue to deliver a range of outreach activities including those in their existing access agreements, agreed with the Office for Fair Access, and their widening participation strategic assessments. Within this context, the Aimhigher programme will cease at the end of this academic year (July 2011).

Animal Experiments

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will ensure that specific outcomes and milestones for the reduction of animal experiments funded by the Medical Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council are included in those research councils' delivery plans.

David Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) are non-departmental public bodies which receive their grant in aid from this Department. In keeping with the Haldane principle, day to day decisions on the scientific merits of different strategies, programme and projects are taken by the research councils without Government involvement.
	The law states that the use of animals in research where it may cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm, is subject to licence and will be permitted only where there is no practicable alternative. The MRC and BBSRC are committed to ensuring that any research programmes they fund follow high standards of animal welfare and avoid the use of animals wherever an alternative exists. All proposals submitted to MRC and BBSRC are subject to robust peer review which includes assessment of the justification for the proposed use of animals.
	MRC and BBSRC are strongly committed to promoting the principles of Replacement, Refinement and Reduction (the 3Rs) of animals in research, and are the major funders of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs),
	www.nc3rs.org.uk
	NC3Rs provides a UK focus for the promotion, development and implementation of the 3Rs in animal research and testing, and brings together academia, industry, government and animal welfare organisations. NC3Rs aims to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas, and the translation of research findings into practice that will benefit both animals and science. NC3Rs funds high-quality 3Rs research, organises workshops and symposia to disseminate and advance the 3Rs, and develops 3Rs information resources and guidelines.
	All the research councils are required to produce a delivery plan which sets out how their funding allocation from this Department will be spent over the spending review period. Delivery plans are high level documents and do not set out specific milestones in relation to outcomes.

Animal Experiments

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what account the Medical Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council take of public concern for animal welfare in their policies on animal experimentation; and by what processes.

David Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) are non-departmental public bodies which receive their grant in aid from the Department.
	The MRC and BBSRC are very aware of their responsibilities to understand and take account of public concerns about any aspect of the research they fund. The MRC and BBSRC provide support for, and are active members of, the Boyd Group, which brings together scientists, research funders and animal welfare groups to discuss policy issues related to animals in research. The MRC and BBSRC work with animal welfare organisations such as the RSPCA in relation to policies on animal experimentation.
	MRC and BBSRC are strongly committed to promoting the principles of Replacement, Refinement and Reduction (the 3Rs) of animals in research, and are the major funders of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs),
	www.nc3rs.org.uk
	NC3Rs provides a UK focus for the promotion, development and implementation of the 3Rs in animal research and testing, and brings together academia, industry, government and animal welfare organisations. NC3Rs aims to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas, and the translation of research findings into practice that will benefit both animals and science. NC3Rs funds high-quality 3Rs research, organises workshops and symposia to disseminate and advance the 3Rs, and develops 3Rs information resources and guidelines. In partnership with other funders of biomedical research in the UK the MRC and BBSRC have published guidelines on "Responsibility in the use of animals in bioscience research" (this is available from NC3R's website
	http://www.nc3rs.org.uk/document.asp?id=1319
	and also from the MRC and BBSRC). Compliance with the guidelines is a condition of funding for all grants involving the use of animals.
	The BBSRC is also guided and advised in these areas by its Bioscience for Society Strategy Panel, a panel of independent experts whose responsibilities include:
	Advising BBSRC on current and emerging public attitudes to bioscience issues and the conduct of research, identifying issues requiring BBSRC action.
	Approving and guiding the development of BBSRC's programme in public engagement, dialogue and consultation to meet government and BBSRC strategic plan objectives.
	Making proposals to help BBSRC discharge its social responsibilities by further integrating ethical and other social issues into its planning on policy and funding.
	Additionally, BBSRC has strategic policy priorities in the 3Rs and in "Welfare of managed animals (including livestock and companion animals)"
	www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/priorities.aspx

Apprentices

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of apprentices aged  (a) under 19 years and  (b) 19 years and over were engaged in companies with (i) one employee, (ii) fewer than 10 employees and (iii) fewer than 50 employees in the latest period figures are available.

John Hayes: The following shows the percentage of apprenticeship starts in 2009/10 by the size of their employer, based upon information to date for the 2009/10 academic year. This analysis is based upon the size of the site-level employer. A national employer that has a number of sites across the country may therefore be recorded as a site-level employer multiple times. It is not possible to provide more detailed breakdowns of employer size for those employers with less than 50 employees.
	
		
			  Apprenticeship starts in 2009/10 by site-level employer size( 1) 
			   Age( 2)  
			  Site-level employer size  Under 19  19 and Over  Total 
			 1 to 49 47% 36% 41% 
			 50+ 34% 50% 43% 
			 Unknown 19% 14% 16% 
			 Total 100% 100% 100% 
			 
			 Total number of starts 114,000 159,800 273,900 
			 (1) Figures are based on the number of employees at the local, site level. A national employer that has a number of sites across the country may therefore be recorded as a site-level employer multiple times. (2) Age is based on age at start of programme.  Source: Individualised Learner Record

Apprentices: Females

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to ensure that  (a) the National Apprenticeship Service and  (b) new apprenticeship places increase the proportion of women in disciplines in which they have been under-represented; how much he plans to allocate to adult apprenticeships in the next three years; and what objectives he plans to set for such apprenticeships in respect of gender balance.

John Hayes: The Government are committed to increasing the number of apprenticeship places for all suitably qualified people, regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability or religious beliefs. In the spending review, we announced that we will increase investment in adult apprenticeships by up to £250 million during this Parliament. There will be investment of £605 million in 2011-12 and an indicative budget of £648 million in 2012-13. By the 2014-15 financial year, we will have in place sufficient funding for 75,000 more adult apprenticeship places than the previous Government were providing.
	Men and women are evenly balanced in terms of numbers on the apprenticeships programme, but we know there is gender segregation across some sectors, with women under-represented in higher paid sectors such as construction and engineering. This broadly reflects the gender divide in the workplace, but it is an area we are keen to address.
	Good quality information, advice and guidance are critical to helping everyone make informed choices. It is important that this information is presented in a non-biased and non-stereotypical manner. That is why we are also introducing an enhanced information, advice and guidance service for adults, offering high quality personalised information about a range of training and support.
	Increasing the number, quality and background of people applying for apprenticeships is a priority for National Apprenticeships Service. The NAS is working with careers guidance agencies, local authorities, Job Centre Plus and other key partners to develop resources on apprenticeships to encourage people to think about apprenticeships in a non-stereotypical way. NAS also works with employers to help them understand and be more responsive to the needs of atypical and under-represented groups, for example women in construction and engineering.
	The 'Diversity in Apprenticeships' pilots, which are due to commence delivery early in 2011, will test out new approaches to addressing under-representation and inequality in apprenticeships by creating a mutually supportive 'critical mass' of learners in non-traditional occupations. Seven of these pilots are focusing on the issue of under representation of females in male dominated sectors.

Biofuels: Job Creation

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the role of the biodiesel industry in creating skilled jobs in the environmental sector; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: This Department has made no such assessment.

Broadband: Crewe

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the  (a) adequacy and  (b) levels of usage of broadband services in Crewe and Nantwich constituency.

Edward Vaizey: Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) estimates that Crewe and Nantwich constituency has approximately 47,600 residential and commercial properties. They also estimate approximately 1.5% of these premises would have either a slow broadband service or no service at all.

Broadband: Scotland

Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely effects on  (a) Scotland and  (b) West Dunbartonshire local authority area of the implementation of the Government's policy on access to super-fast broadband.

Edward Vaizey: I am replying in view of my responsibility for communications policy. I have made no specific assessment, but expect that along with other areas in the UK, Scotland and West Dunbartonshire will benefit from greater availability of superfast broadband as a result of the UK Government's policies.

Broadband: Wales

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has had discussions with the Leader of the Conservative Group in the National Assembly for Wales on the selection of super-fast broadband pilot areas.

Edward Vaizey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 25 November 2010,  Official Report, column 402W.

Business

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the merits of establishing an advisory panel of entrepreneurs; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: Returning the economy to sustainable growth is the overriding priority for the Government. The private sector delivers growth and it is the decisions of individual business leaders, workers and entrepreneurs that will ensure our economic future. We therefore need to draw on the experience and ideas of entrepreneurs in considering how Government can best support this process of growth and renewal. To assist this, I have recently established a new Entrepreneurs' Forum that will meet from time to time and complement existing channels of dialogue with business.

Consumers: Protection

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward proposals for enhanced consumer protection against aggressive online sales marketing; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: Consumers are protected against aggressive sales marketing by the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs). The regulations ban commercial practices which through the use of harassment, coercion or undue influence are likely to significantly impair the average consumer's freedom of choice in relation to goods or services, and thereby cause or be likely to cause him to make a choice he would not otherwise have made (eg purchase a good or service he would not otherwise have purchased). The CPRs apply as much to online sales marketing as they do to traditional marketing techniques. The CPRs are enforced by the Office of Fair Trading and local authority trading standards services.

Debts: Developing Countries

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding the Export Credits Guarantee Department has received from other Government departments to meet the cost of cancelling debt owed to it by heavily-indebted poor countries in the latest period for which figures are available.

Edward Davey: Since 2000 approximately £93 million has been paid to ECGD by the Department for International Development in respect of amounts owed by heavily indebted poor countries. It relates to debt which HMG has forgiven but which ECGD has been unable to write-off for statutory reasons.

Departmental Conferences

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his Department's annual budget for conferences was on  (a) 7 May 2010 and  (b) 7 December 2010.

Edward Davey: This Department's annual administration budget for conferences was £741,000 on 7 May and £773,000 on 7 December. The current total annual forecast is for expenditure of £691,000.

Departmental Equality

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what methodology he is using for the equality impact assessment of decisions on his Department's expenditure over the Spending Review period; and what measures are in place to ensure that the allocations from his Department's science budget comply with the duty to promote equality provided by the Equality Act 2010.

David Willetts: To assess the equality impacts of BIS expenditure decisions over the spending review period, analysis of likely effects is to be based on the best mix of both hard numbers and more qualitative information. This will feed into the wider cost-benefit appraisal of policy decisions.
	Where we believe that funding changes have negative equality impacts we will seek to mitigate these as far as possible within the policy delivery.
	Even if we believe that funding changes will have no equality impacts we will anyway review these areas at regular intervals and, should negative effects come to light, appropriately assess and seek to mitigate these.
	Following completion of the detailed work on the science and research budget allocations, we will work with partner bodies to ensure that we meet the requirements of all equality and diversity legislation.

Departmental Manpower

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many agency workers his Department and its agencies employ at each pay grade.

Edward Davey: The Department currently employs five temporary agency staff at clerical/junior executive level under the OGC Buying Solutions framework agreement for the supply of temporary agency staff. In addition a number of specialist posts are filled on a temporary basis by agency workers. To provide the information requested for the specialists would involve disproportionate cost. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has clear guidance that states agency staff may only be used in exceptional circumstances where the post cannot be filled by a permanent member of staff and where the work is deemed to be business critical.
	I have asked the chief executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office, the Intellectual Property Office and the Skills Funding Agency and they will respond to the hon. Member directly.
	 Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 6 December 2010:
	Thank you for your parliamentary question in which you asked how many agency workers does the Skills Funding Agency (the Agency) employ and at each grade.
	Please be advised that the Agency currently deploys 113 contingent workers. Of these, we classify 20 as agency workers ('temps') who are engaged in routine administrative functions; the remaining 93 are those where we have been unsuccessful in our attempts to recruit directly and these individuals are engaged in more specialist, professional activities-for example, IT-related work and project management.
	We do not analyse the grade at which each contingent worker is deployed-they are not our direct employees and are therefore outside our pay grades.
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 6 December 2010:
	The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, has asked me to reply to your question how many agency workers his Department and its agencies employ at each pay grade.
	The Insolvency Service is an executive agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	As of 4th December 2010, The Insolvency Service employed 142 agency workers. These agency workers were employed at the following pay grades:
	79 at civil service pay grade A2 or Administrative Officer and
	63 at Insolvency Service examiner pay grade L3, which is the equivalent of civil service pay grade Higher Executive Officer.
	 Letter from John Alty, dated 6 December 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 30/11/2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The IPO which is an agency of BIS uses the equivalent of one AO from Agency.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 6 December 2010:
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 30 November 2010, UIN 28501 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Companies House employs two agency workers in the Band B pay grade to cover maternity leave.
	 Letter from Peter Mason, dated 10 December 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (formerly National Weights and Measures Laboratory) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 30 November (reference 2010/2797) to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, asking about the number of agency workers employed in the Department and its agencies.
	Currently NMO has one individual working here who has been provided by an employment agency. That individual is covering a vacant post, whilst concerted efforts are being made to fill the post permanently.

Departmental Publications

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the expenditure of his Department and its predecessor on printing  (a) Command Papers,  (b) papers laid before Parliament by Act,  (c) consultation documents and  (d) other papers in each of the last 10 years.

Edward Davey: Since the creation of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 5 June 2009 £69,016.56 has been spent on printing parliamentary publications. In addition £454,005.40 has been spent on printing other departmental publications.
	Information relating to earlier expenditure by the Department's predecessors is not held centrally and could be assembled only at disproportionate expense.

Derby University

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects on the local economy of the student population attending the University of Derby.

David Willetts: The Government do not undertake assessments as outlined in your question. However, the university of Derby has, earlier this year, published a review entitled "The University of Derby's Impact on the local Economy" which shows that the 'student pound' spent in the local area is estimated to be worth in excess of £30 million per year. The report also highlighted the university's use of local suppliers and contractors and that, both directly and indirectly, it was responsible for over 3,200 full time jobs in the area. The following link will take you to the relevant report which I hope you will find informative:
	http://www.derby.ac.uk/news/university-reveals-its-economic-impact

Digital Economy Act 2010

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  when he plans to publish the initial obligations code for Ofcom under the Digital Economy Act 2010;
	(2)  by what date he expects judicial review proceedings in respect of Ministerial decisions relating to the Digital Economy Act 2010 to have been concluded;
	(3)  when he plans to bring forward secondary legislation to implement the provisions of the Digital Economy Act 2010.

Edward Vaizey: Ofcom will shortly be publishing the initial obligations code under the Digital Economy Act 2010.
	The judicial review proceedings in respect of the Digital Economy Act 2010 are currently scheduled in the court diary for 22-24 March 2011.
	The draft costs-sharing statutory instrument relating to the Digital Economy Act 2010 is currently sitting with the European Commission under the Technical Standards Directive. The standstill period while member states and the Commission consider the draft ends on 23 December 2010. Should the standstill period end with no comment on the draft, we plan to introduce the statutory instrument to the Houses of Parliament early in 2011. The initial obligations code, once published, will also be notified to the European Commission under the Technical Standards Directive before it can be laid in Parliament.

EU Internal Trade

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the total monetary value was of  (a) exports from the UK to other EU countries and  (b) imports to the UK from other EU countries in each of the last five years.

Mark Prisk: The data requested are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   UK exports to EU  UK imports from EU 
			   Goods and services  Goods  Services  Goods and services  Goods  Services 
			 2005 171,181 121,486 49,695 208,553 158,163 50,390 
			 2006 206,698 152,357 54,341 236,331 183,749 52,582 
			 2007 189,655 127,813 61,842 224,890 169,799 55,091 
			 2008 211,064 141,831 69,233 239,646 181,070 58,576 
			 2009 188,041 124,427 63,614 216,902 162,140 54,762 
			  Note:  Trade in goods figures have been affected by transactions associated with missing trader VAT fraud, especially in the first half of 2006.  Source: ONS Balance of Payments Statistical Bulletin

Further Education: Finance

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's document, Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth, paragraph 46, whether he plans to establish a joint learner support fund for both 16-18 year olds and those aged 19 studying in further education and sixth form colleges.

John Hayes: Paragraph 26 of "Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth" gives details of the Government plan for learner support funds.
	Officials within BIS and the Department for Education are working closely on the changes to be made to learner support for adults and young people respectively, with a view to aligning policy where it would be most appropriate.

Further Education: Overseas Students

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the rate of completion was for students studying in further education colleges who entered the UK under the student visa programme in the most recent year for which figures are available.

John Hayes: The completion rate in 2008/09, for all learners participating in Government-funded further education was 80.6%. Information is not collected centrally for learners in further education who entered the UK under the student visa programme.
	Government-funded learning as recorded on the individualised learner record (ILR) is restricted to home learners. Therefore learners who are non-EEA (European economic area) nationals must have been resident in the UK for the three years preceding their course start date and the main purpose for residence was not to receive full-time education during any part of that three-year period. There are a limited number of exceptions to this, for example-refugees, learners with indefinite leave to remain status, or learners studying under reciprocal exchange agreements.

Growth and Innovation Fund

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills who he expects to chair the Growth and Innovation Fund.

John Hayes: I intend to establish a board under the chairmanship of one of the UK Commissioners for Employment and Skills to oversee the growth and innovation fund and identify projects to be supported through it.

Higher Education: Admissions

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many pupils eligible for free school meals took up a place at each university in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08.

David Willetts: The information requested is shown in the table. These figures relate to pupils who were in receipt of free school meals (FSM). It is known that not all pupils who are eligible for FSM claim them. Such pupils would be excluded from the figures. These figures have been estimated using matched data from the National Pupil Database and the Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record. These rounded estimates allow for a small margin of error that arises as result of the matching procedure deployed.
	
		
			  Estimates of the number of FSM pupils aged 15 in English maintained schools who progress to HE by age 19, by higher education institution 
			   FSM pupils 
			  UK Higher Education Institution  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 The Open University 95 125 145 
			 Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln 10 10 10 
			 Buckinghamshire New University 70 70 70 
			 Central School of Speech and Drama - - - 
			 University of Chester 60 75 85 
			 Canterbury Christ Church University 50 50 55 
			 York St John University 20 20 30 
			 University College Plymouth St Mark and St John 15 10 5 
			 Dartington College of Arts 5 5 - 
			 Edge Hill University 80 110 120 
			 University College Falmouth 10 10 15 
			 Harper Adams University College - - 5 
			 Homerton College 0 0 0 
			 Kent Institute of Art and Design - 0 0 
			 The University of Winchester 20 25 30 
			 Liverpool Hope University 100 95 100 
			 University of the Arts, London 80 90 110 
			 University of Bedfordshire 130 120 135 
			 The University of Northampton 75 50 75 
			 Newman College of Higher Education 30 35 50 
			 Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication 15 20 15 
			 Roehampton University 105 125 160 
			 Rose Bruford College - - - 
			 Royal Academy of Music 0 0 - 
			 Royal College of Music 0 0 0 
			 Royal Northern College of Music - - - 
			 Southampton Solent University 80 75 90 
			 St Martin's College 40 45 45 
			 St Mary's University College, Twickenham 25 30 40 
			 Leeds Trinity and All Saints 25 35 15 
			 Trinity Laban - 0 - 
			 Surrey Institute of Art and Design 0 0 0 
			 The University of Worcester 20 25 30 
			 Anglia Ruskin University 90 70 95 
			 Bath Spa University 20 25 30 
			 The University of Bolton 35 55 60 
			 Bournemouth University 50 60 75 
			 The University of Brighton 75 85 95 
			 Birmingham City University 255 250 300 
			 The University of Central Lancashire 250 215 220 
			 University of Gloucestershire 30 35 30 
			 Coventry University 170 170 150 
			 University of Derby 85 105 95 
			 The University of East London 185 235 300 
			 The University of Greenwich 270 275 265 
			 University of Hertfordshire 270 280 310 
			 The University of Huddersfield 165 185 175 
			 The University of Lincoln 55 55 80 
			 Kingston University 305 350 405 
			 Leeds Metropolitan University 190 190 190 
			 Liverpool John Moores University 235 275 300 
			 The Manchester Metropolitan University 380 415 425 
			 Middlesex University 285 290 335 
			 De Montfort University 235 215 250 
			 The University of Northumbria at Newcastle 110 110 130 
			 The Nottingham Trent University 130 135 160 
			 Oxford Brookes University 40 30 35 
			 The University of Plymouth 115 105 100 
			 The University of Portsmouth 90 85 100 
			 Sheffield Hallam University 140 195 190 
			 London South Bank University 150 185 215 
			 Staffordshire University 60 50 90 
			 The University of Sunderland 75 100 110 
			 The University of Teesside 145 130 175 
			 Thames Valley University 95 120 105 
			 University of the West of England, Bristol 85 85 85 
			 The University of Chichester 20 25 25 
			 The University of Westminster 425 420 425 
			 Wimbledon School of Art 5 0 0 
			 The University of Wolverhampton 245 295 275 
			 The University of Wales, Newport - 10 - 
			 The North-East Wales Institute of Higher Education 10 10 - 
			 University of Wales Institute, Cardiff 10 5 10 
			 University of Glamorgan 20 15 15 
			 Swansea Institute of Higher Education 10 5 5 
			 Trinity College, Carmarthen - - - 
			 University of Abertay Dundee 0 0 5 
			 Edinburgh College of Art - - 0 
			 Glasgow School of Art - - 0 
			 Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh - - - 
			 The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama 0 0 - 
			 The Robert Gordon University - - - 
			 The University of Paisley - 0 5 
			 Glasgow Caledonian University - - - 
			 Napier University - - - 
			 Aston University 120 95 160 
			 The University of Bath 20 15 15 
			 The University of Birmingham 120 100 125 
			 The University of Bradford 185 220 260 
			 The University of Bristol 25 20 25 
			 Brunei University 170 190 255 
			 The University of Cambridge 25 20 20 
			 The City University 125 160 160 
			 University of Durham 25 30 35 
			 The University of East Anglia 40 35 50 
			 The University of Essex 50 70 65 
			 The University of Exeter 30 15 25 
			 The University of Hull 75 75 90 
			 The University of Keele 50 50 40 
			 The University of Kent 75 75 95 
			 The University of Lancaster 40 40 50 
			 The University of Leeds 85 105 100 
			 The University of Leicester 55 55 55 
			 The University of Liverpool 100 90 105 
			 Birkbeck College - 10 20 
			 Goldsmiths College 70 100 105 
			 Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine 35 45 35 
			 Institute of Education 0 0 0 
			 King's College London 100 120 125 
			 London School of Economics and Political Science 25 30 15 
			 Queen Mary and Westfield College 195 250 325 
			 Royal Holloway and Bedford New College 35 35 40 
			 The Royal Veterinary College - - - 
			 St George's Hospital Medical School 10 25 25 
			 The School of Oriental and African Studies 20 35 35 
			 The School of Pharmacy 20 15 15 
			 University College London 75 50 60 
			 University of London (Institutes and activities) 0 0 0 
			 Loughborough University 30 50 50 
			 The University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 25 35 40 
			 The University of Nottingham 45 55 70 
			 The University of Oxford 20 25 20 
			 The University of Reading 35 40 40 
			 The University of Salford 200 155 200 
			 The University of Sheffield 55 55 75 
			 The University of Southampton 40 45 45 
			 The University of Surrey 35 35 45 
			 The University of Sussex 30 35 55 
			 The University of Warwick 20 30 30 
			 The University of York 25 15 25 
			 The University of Edinburgh 10 - 5 
			 The University of Glasgow 5 - 5 
			 The University of Strathclyde - - 0 
			 The University of Aberdeen 10 10 10 
			 Heriot Watt University - 5 - 
			 The University of Dundee - 5 - 
			 The University of St Andrews 5 5 - 
			 The University of Stirling 5 10 10 
			 Scottish Agricultural College 0 0 0 
			 The University of Wales, Lampeter 10 5 - 
			 Aberystwyth University 25 30 25 
			 Bangor University 20 20 15 
			 Cardiff University 25 20 20 
			 Swansea University 20 15 15 
			 Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama - - 5 
			 The Queen's University of Belfast - - - 
			 University of Ulster 5 5 - 
			 Writtle College - 5 10 
			 Norwich School of Art and Design 5 5 0 
			 Cumbria Institute of the Arts 5 10 0 
			 St. Mary's University College - 0 0 
			 Royal Agricultural College 0 0 0 
			 UHI Millennium Institute - - - 
			 The Arts Institute at Bournemouth 10 5 15 
			 Bell College - - 0 
			 Conservatoire for Dance and Drama 5 - 5 
			 Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies 35 55 55 
			 Courtauld Institute of Art 0 0 0 
			 London Metropolitan University 300 315 295 
			 The University of Buckingham - - 0 
			 The University of Manchester 140 145 155 
			 Heythrop College 0 - 5 
			 The University College for the Creative Arts 30 40 70 
			 Leeds College of Music 0 0 - 
			 Guildhall School of Music and Drama 0 0 - 
			 The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts 0 5 0 
			 University Campus Suffolk 0 0 15 
			 Overall total FSM pupils 10,060 10,720 11,905 
			  Notes: 1. All figures are estimates and have been rounded to the nearest five, figures less than five are shown as '-', zero counts are shown as '0'. 2. The figures for FSM pupils are based on those recorded as such on Pupil Level Census. As this is a snapshot of pupils in one year, this will exclude pupils who claimed free school meals in previous years. Also some parents may choose not to apply for FSM. Children from these families who progress to HE institutions would not be included in the table.  Source:  Matched data from the National Pupil Database, the Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record and the Learning and Skills Council Individualised Learner Record.

Higher Education: Admissions

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what reasons the new access commitments by universities are to apply no earlier than October 2012.

David Willetts: The arrangements for new access agreements and the £150 million National Scholarship Programme are being introduced to coincide with the new funding arrangements for students in 2012.
	Universities, schools and colleges have learned much from Aimhigher about "what works". Universities already use this to inform their own outreach activities covered by existing access agreements, agreed with the Office for Fair Access, and the widening participation strategic assessments they submit to HEFCE. Helping young people find out about higher education is a normal part of what schools do and schools will receive additional support through the pupil premium from April 2011. In this context we have concluded transitional funding is unnecessary.
	The National Scholarship Programme will form part of a package of measures to support disadvantaged young people through their education, including the introduction of the £2.5 billion pupil premium in April 2011, that will help to encourage young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply to Higher Education.

Higher Education: Sunderland

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students from Sunderland entered higher education between 1997 and 2010.

David Willetts: The latest available information on the numbers of entrants from Sunderland local authority to higher education courses at UK higher education institutions is shown in the following table.
	Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will become available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2011. Comparable local authority-level information on entrants to higher education courses at further education colleges is not available.
	
		
			  Entrants( 1)  from Sunderland local authority( 2) : UK higher education institutions( 3) , academic years 1997/98 to 2008/09 
			  Academic year  Entrants 
			 1997/98 2,045 
			 1998/99 2,355 
			 1999/2000 2,195 
			 2000/01 2,170 
			 2001/02 2,490 
			 2002/03 2,575 
			 2003/04 2,685 
			 2004/05 2,805 
			 2005/06 3,100 
			 2006/07 3,000 
			 2007/08 2,930 
			 2008/09 3,645 
			 (1) Covers undergraduate and postgraduate entrants of all ages to full-time and part-time courses. (2) Figures in the table do not include entrants where the local authority of the student cannot be established due to missing or invalid postcode information. (3) Excludes the Open University due to inconsistencies in their coding of students across the time series.  Note: Figures are on a HESA snapshot basis as at 31 December and are rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record

Insolvency

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many complaints have been received by the Insolvency Service in respect of insolvency practitioners and administrators in each of the last 10 years.

Edward Davey: The Insolvency Service does not have the information requested for the full period.
	Most insolvency practitioners are authorised and regulated by one of seven recognised professional bodies, though the Secretary of State does directly authorise a small number of practitioners.
	Of the complaints against insolvency practitioners authorised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, that information is only available since 2003 and is summarised as follows:
	
		
			   Number of complaints  Of which: Relate to administration 
			 2003-05 202 8 
			 2006 62 8 
			 2007 89 10 
			 2008 73 10 
			 2009 66 13 
		
	
	Since 2009 the Insolvency Service has published an Annual Review of Insolvency Practitioner Regulation, which includes details of the number of complaints received by the recognised professional bodies and the Insolvency Service. The reports published to date show that in 2009 there were a total of 618 complaints against insolvency practitioners (2008: 828), of which 181 relate to complaints against insolvency practitioners acting as administrators (2008: 197). The next report, covering the 2010 calendar year, will be published in 2011.

Insolvency

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the amount of money which was owed to unsecured creditors by firms in liquidation in each of the last four years.

Edward Davey: The Insolvency Service does not collate a total figure for the amount due to unsecured creditors by firms in liquidation. However, The service's most recent profiling report for companies in compulsory liquidation shows that the average level of debt owed by companies in compulsory liquidation was £584,134 for the year 2008/09.
	Figures for the years 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08 were given in response to an earlier question (2009/54).
	The service is in the process of obtaining information in respect of compulsory liquidations for 2009/10 and I will provide a supplementary answer to the House when I have received the necessary information.

Regional Growth Fund

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on what dates and at what locations roadshows to promote the regional growth fund have been held to date.

Mark Prisk: So far regional growth fund roadshows have been held in:
	Taunton: 19 November 2010
	Liverpool: 3 December 2010
	Darlington: 6 December 2010
	Details of forthcoming roadshows can be found on the regional growth fund webpage at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/regional-economic-development/regional-growth-fund

Regional Growth Fund

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many bids for funding from the regional growth fund have been received from individuals and organisations  (a) based in each region and  (b) in total to date.

Mark Prisk: The closing date for applications to the fund is 21 January 2011, to date no bids have been received.

Science: Females

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of funding allocations made from the Science and Society budget in increasing the number of women participating in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

David Willetts: holding answer 9 December 2010
	The principal allocations from the Science and Society budget to increase the number of women participating in science, technology, engineering and mathematics support the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (UKRC) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network (STEMNET).
	In April 2008 the Tavistock Institute published an evaluation of UKRC on behalf of the then Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. The recent National Audit Office report, 'Educating the Next Generation of Scientists', showed that the STEMNET Ambassador scheme is associated with a statistically significant improvement in take-up and achievement in science and mathematics.
	STEMNET's remit is to enthuse young people to study STEM, and across the population this would mean significant numbers of extra girls taking up these subjects. STEMNET seeks to ensure that it targets all equality groups through the diversity of its STEM Ambassador profile, and interaction with less engaged and hard-to-reach schools.
	Both programmes are routinely reviewed against their agreed objectives on a quarterly basis.

Science: Females

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of the Science and Society budget was spent on initiatives to improve the gender balance in scientific fields in each of the last three years.

David Willetts: holding answer 9 December 2010
	Many of the initiatives funded from the Science and Society budget have objectives on gender diversity. Funding for these initiatives over the last three years is as follows.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2008/09  2009/10  2010/11 
			 Big Bang Fair 0.15 0.35 0.35 
			 National Science and Engineering Competition 0.15 0.26 0.26 
			 National Science and Engineering Week 0.47 0.47 0.54 
			 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network (STEMNET) 5.85 6.30 6.79 
			 UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology 2.54 2.44 2.47 
			 Women in Science, Engineering and Construction (WISE) 0.04 0.04 0.04

Science: Females

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the gender balance among scientific staff of each organisation which has received funding from the Science in Society funding stream in each of the last three years.

David Willetts: holding answer 9 December 2010
	 Few of the organisations funded from the science and society budget employ staff as scientists. Neither the coalition, nor the previous Government have asked the organisations to provide any breakdown of their staff by either job type or gender.

Scientific Advisers

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  whether the  (a) Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees and  (b) Principles for the Treatment of Independent Scientific Advice, will apply to scientific advisory committees which are being (i) retained and (ii) reconstituted in each ground referred to in the document entitled Public Bodies Reform-Proposals for Change;
	(2)  what mechanisms will be in place to ensure the independence of scientific advisory committees which are to be reconstituted within Departments as committees of experts;
	(3)  what the evidential basis was for the distinction made between those scientific advisory committees to be  (a) retained and  (b) reconstituted in the document entitled Public Bodies Reform-Proposals for Change;
	(4)  what effects the grounds on which scientific advisory committees have been  (a) retained and  (b) reconstituted will have on the responsibilities of the chairs of these committees.

David Willetts: The Government fully recognise the importance of science and engineering advice to the delivery of its policies and the important role that Scientific Advisory Committees (SACs), and the independent advisers that sit on them, play in ensuring that the best advice is available.
	The Public Bodies Reform process was undertaken to ensure that central Government is not carrying out functions which are no longer needed, to consider where there is duplication of effort and where lines of accountability for decisions which should be taken by Ministers needs to be strengthened.
	Scientific advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) were included in the process along with all the other bodies. Reforming the way Government obtain scientific and technical advice, through using committees of experts in some cases, will reinforce transparency and accountability and provide for stronger co-ordination, while allowing Government to have continued access to independent, authoritative and cost-effective advice to support its policies.
	The changes proposed to specific SACs were decisions for the Department to which that SAC reports and were considered on a case-by-case basis.
	The guidance to Departments in implementing the changes is clear that SACs, whether being retained as NDPBs or being reconstituted, should continue to operate in line with the Principles of Scientific Advice to Government and the Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees. These set out clearly the importance of such committees operating independently and transparently. The changes of themselves should not have an impact on the responsibilities of the chairs of SACs.

Space Technology

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to ensure gender balance in the composition of  (a) the Space Leadership Council and  (b) other boards and committees associated with the UK Space Agency.

David Willetts: As the membership of the Space Leadership Council changes over time, the Department will work to ensure a good gender balance in membership although appointments will of course be on merit.
	The advisory structure of the Space Agency is being reviewed. Where members need to be appointed to new boards and committees, this will be done in line with relevant procedures and will be based around appointing the best possible people.

Students: Fees and Charges

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has issued guidance to universities on the application to them of competition law in respect of price-setting.

David Willetts: holding answer 9 December 2010
	The Department and its agencies have not issued any guidance to higher education institutions (HEI) on this matter. We are considering whether any specific guidance for HEIs on the setting of tuition fees and competition law is required.

Students: Loans

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many former students had student loan repayments taken via PAYE after they had repaid in full a loan to the Student Loan Company in each of the last five years; and what proportion of loans that were repaid in full were affected in each such year.

David Willetts: The requested information is not available, except at disproportionate cost.
	It is, regrettably, possible for borrowers to over-repay their student loans because of the loan collection process. After the end of each tax year, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) notifies the Student Loans Company (SLC) of loan deductions made by employers in the previous tax year. Due to this time lag, it is possible for people to over-repay. However, all overpayments are refunded with interest.
	Since December 2009, in order to reduce the number of those who over-repay, borrowers nearing the end of their loan repayment term are notified by the SLC that they may opt out of the PAYE system, and complete their loan repayments by direct debit. Additionally, borrowers are advised to monitor their own repayments so they can calculate when they are likely to repay their loan in full.

Work Experience

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage private and public sector employers to provide paid internships to recent graduates.

David Willetts: The coalition Government are committed to supporting the creation of internships as part of the wider programme to get Britain working. We continue to encourage employers to offer work experience and internships to help graduates develop valuable skills and boost their employment chances.
	Employers can advertise internship vacancies without charge on the Graduate Talent Pool website, and over 27,000 vacancies have now been advertised. There are currently 3,129 vacancies available, 1,958 of which are paid.

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 6 September 2010,  Official Report, columns 228-9W, on abortion, when he expects to write to the hon. Member for Southend West; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: I have written to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend West today and will place a copy of the letter in the Library.

Animal Products: Clones

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the sale and labelling of products containing material from cloned animals or the offspring of cloned animals; and what advice he has received on the matter from the Food Standards Agency.

Anne Milton: Any food obtained from cloned animals is regulated as a "novel food" under Regulation (EC) No 258/97(1). According to this regulation, novel foods may not be marketed in the European Union without an authorisation. Applications for authorisation of novel foods are evaluated by national authorities against criteria of safety, nutritional quality and not misleading the consumer. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the competent authority for novel foods in the United Kingdom and advises that food obtained from the offspring of cloned animals also falls within the scope of Regulation (EC) 258/97. However, the legislation could also be interpreted to apply only to food from cloned animals themselves. The FSA is seeking views of interested parties on a change to its advice on the application of this regulation to the offspring of cloned cattle and pigs.
	In October 2010 the European Commission published a report on animal cloning which recommended a temporary ban on the marketing of products obtained from cloned animals. The Government's view is that such a ban would be disproportionate in terms of food safety and animal welfare and insufficient evidence has been provided to justify it. Any proposal should be supported by an impact assessment that demonstrates the need for and benefit of new regulation. The Commission's report does not identify the need for any future controls on food from the offspring of cloned animals, which is in line with the Government's view.
	The Board of the FSA discussed animal cloning at its open meeting on 7 December and has subsequently advised Ministers that the marketing of products obtained from cloned animals should be subject to authorisation as novel foods but, based on the current evidence, there are no food safety grounds for regulating foods from the descendants of cloned cattle and pigs.
	In respect of other consumer interests, the Board agreed that, for food safety purposes, mandatory labelling of meat and milk obtained from the descendants of cloned cattle and pigs would be unnecessary and disproportionate, providing no significant food safety benefit to consumers. However, the Board recognised the high level of public concern over the use of cloning and has asked Ministers to consider what information should be provided to the public about the ethics and welfare implications of animal cloning.
	(1) Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients.

Asthma: Health Services

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the standards of management of asthma in the NHS; what recent assessment he has made of the extent to which standards of asthma management vary between primary care trusts areas; what statistics his Department holds on emergency hospital admissions for asthma-related conditions in each primary care trust area in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The NHS White Paper, "Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS", sets out the Government's long-term vision for the future of the national health service and focuses on improving outcomes for patients. We are also particularly committed to improve outcomes for people with respiratory diseases, including asthma. A great deal of activity is already in hand across the NHS to improve outcomes for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, and we will continue to work with key organisations and with clinical leads for COPD and asthma to make sure that change happen.
	The statistics requested on emergency hospital admissions for asthma-related conditions in each primary care trust area in the last three years have been placed in the Library.

Baby Care Units

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS medical facilities have implemented the  (a) Toolkit for High Quality Neonatal Services and  (b) Quality Standards in Specialist Neonatal Care from the 2011-12 NHS Operating Framework.

Anne Milton: This information is not collected by the Department. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Quality Standard for Specialist Neonatal Care and the Toolkit for High Quality Neonatal Services are valuable tools to assist national health service commissioners and providers in the provision high quality care for babies and their families.

Bassetlaw Hospital: Childbirth

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many births there were at Bassetlaw hospital in each of the last 10 years; and how many such births required consultant intervention.

Anne Milton: This information is not available in the format requested. However, the number of women giving birth at Bassetlaw hospital, in the period from 2000-01 to 2009-10, is 12,912. This differs from the number of births, as it does not include multiple births, such as twins.
	It is not possible to say from these figures how many specifically required consultant intervention because, while every woman having an intervention will be under consultant care, some of the instrumental deliveries will have been done by doctors in training without reference to the consultant. Additionally a number of the woman having normal deliveries will have been under consultant care for other medical reasons but not required medical intervention for delivery.

Campylobacter

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of food poisoning caused by campylobacter contamination there were in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: The term "incidents" of food poisoning has been interpreted to mean "outbreaks" involving foodborne transmission. An outbreak is defined as an incident in which two or more people, thought to have a common exposure, experience a similar illness or have a proven infection.
	The following table provides information on the number of general outbreaks of campylobacter involving foodborne transmission reported in the United Kingdom, 2005 to 2009, together with the total number of laboratory confirmed campylobacter cases in each year.
	
		
			   Number of campylobacter outbreaks (UK)  
			   All outbreaks  Outbreaks of foodborne transmission  Number of cases associated with foodborne outbreaks  Total number of laboratory confirmed campylobacter cases (UK) 
			 2005 9 8 116 52,171 
			 2006 0 0 0 52,670 
			 2007 3 3 54 58,066 
			 2008 7 4 42 55,735 
			 2009 18 15 318 (1)65,164 
			 Total 37 30 530 283,806 
			 (1) Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland is provisional and may be subject to further change.   Source:   Health Protection Agency, electronic Foodborne and non-Foodborne Gastrointestinal Outbreak Surveillance System (HPA eFOSS) Health Protection Scotland (HPS) Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Northern Ireland (CDSCNI). 
		
	
	Campylobacter is more often associated with sporadic cases of illness rather than outbreaks; as such the data on total number of laboratory confirmed cases is also provided for information.

Campylobacter

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on reducing the incidence of food poisoning caused by contamination by the campylobacter bacterium.

Anne Milton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) leads on government policy for the reduction of foodborne illness. Since its inception in 2000, the reduction of foodborne illness, including illness caused by campylobacter, has been one of the FSA's key objectives.
	The FSA's policy on reducing the incidence of food poisoning caused by campylobacter is to reduce the levels of campylobacter in chicken as a priority. This is a priority because the handling, preparation and consumption of chicken may account for 20% to 30% of human cases of campylobacteriosis, while 50% to 80% may be attributed to the chicken reservoir as a whole. The FSA food chain analysis project, which looked at risk from primary production to retail, concluded that the greatest risk of campylobacter infection for people is from poultry meat, and hazards arise across the food chain that can result in the introduction of campylobacter into food.
	In order to reduce campylobacter, the FSA has developed a Campylobacter Risk Management Programme, which encompasses a range of Government/industry partnership led projects targeted at different points across the food chain and coordinated through a joint action plan. To measure progress on the effectiveness of our Campylobacter Risk Management Programme the FSA has agreed a new target with industry for the reduction in levels of campylobacter in United Kingdom produced raw chicken, to be achieved in a phased approach by April 2015. The target will be published in December 2010.
	The aim of the target is to reduce the levels of the most highly contaminated whole chickens at the end of the slaughter process. This reflects the fact that the degree of contamination on birds is most relevant to their risk to public health, with a high level of contamination posing the highest risk for human illness.
	In addition to working with industry, the FSA's Food Hygiene Campaign works to promote awareness of safe food handling and preparation with consumers in the home and in catering settings.

Care Homes: Standards

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care homes have been rated poor quality since 2000; how many of those have closed; and how many of those which had closed have subsequently re-opened.

Paul Burstow: The CQC has provided the following information:
	The following table shows a snapshot of the number of care homes rated poor since quality ratings were introduced in 2008, and the number that have subsequently been de-registered.
	Quality ratings were not used by the National Care Standards Commission; they were introduced by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSICI) in May 2008, therefore CQC does not hold historical ratings before that period.
	De-registration is the term CQC uses to describe cancelling registrations. CQC is only able to provide data on de-registrations, which does not necessary equate to the physical closure of the care home. CQC has provided the number of de-registrations for care homes rated poor, broken down year by year. Once a care home has been de-registered, it may close or continue to operate if taken over by another provider. This other provider must demonstrate that it is complying and will continue to comply with the regulatory requirements.
	
		
			 Number of "poor" care homes subsequently de-registered 
			  Data as at:  Care homes rated "poor"  Organisation that produced rating  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 8 May 2008 582 CSCI 4 63 34 18 
			 8 April 2009 358 (1)CQC - 3 44 19 
			 8 April 2010 277 (1)CQC - - 3 33 
			 (1) Rating may be the result o f an inspection carried out prior to 1 April 2009, so therefore whilst CSCI was still in existence. All ratings were made while homes were registered under the Care Standards Act (2000). 
		
	
	The CQC is the independent regulator of health and adult social care, established by the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the 2008 Act).
	The new registration system for private and voluntary health care and adult social care providers of regulated activities under the 2008 Act came into effect from 1 October this year. For residential care homes, the new registration system replaces the previous registration system under the Care Standards Act (the 2000 Act).
	From 1 October 2010, to be registered and remain registered, providers must comply with 16 registration requirements relating to essential levels of safety and quality, which are set out in regulations. Failure to comply with the requirements is an offence, and CQC has a range of independent enforcement powers that it can exercise. CQC's enforcement policy sets out how it uses its enforcement powers-this has been developed, consulted on, and published by CQC. It replaces the previous enforcement policy CQC had developed to support the 2000 Act registration system.
	The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not hold all the information requested centrally, and it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the national clinical strategy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Simon Burns: The reforms set out in "Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS" will ensure that the national health service focuses on improving outcomes for patients. As a result, we are looking at the role and nature of clinical strategies within the reformed NHS to ensure that they reflect this focus. We will make further announcements in due course. In the meantime we will continue to work with key organisations and with clinical leads for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. A great deal of activity is already in hand across the NHS to improve outcomes for people with COPD and asthma as a result of the work undertaken so far.

Compulsorily Detained Mental Patients

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether decisions made by mental health tribunals on sectioned patients are binding on those  (a) clinicians and  (b) clinical institutions that are responsible for their welfare and treatment; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: Under the Mental Health Act 1983, tribunals have the power to discharge patients from liability to detention in hospital and from supervised community treatment and guardianship. Those decisions are binding on all concerned.
	While a tribunal's decision to discharge does not prevent the re-detention of the patient in accordance with the Act, case-law has established that only in limited circumstances would that be a proper course of action in the period immediately following the tribunal's decision.
	In certain cases, a tribunal may defer a decision to order the conditional discharge of a patient while arrangements are made to satisfy the conditions it believes are necessary for that discharge. Case-law has established that health and social services must use their best endeavours to put in place the arrangements needed to allow the conditional discharge to take effect. But there is no absolute duty to implement the arrangements the tribunal has in mind, and the tribunal cannot order clinicians to treat patients against their clinical judgment.
	In other cases, if it decides not to discharge a patient, a tribunal may make certain recommendations about the future treatment of the patient, including a recommendation that a patient be transferred to another hospital. Those recommendations are not binding, but the tribunal may, if it wishes, further consider the case if its recommendations are not acted on.

Dental Services

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population resident in  (a) England and  (b) Berkshire West NHS Primary Care Trust area was registered with an NHS dentist in each of the last 10 years.

Simon Burns: Information is not available in the format requested.
	The percentage of the population registered with a national health service dentist in England, as at 31 March, 1997 to 2006 is available in annex B of the "NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report", England: 31 March 2006. Information is provided by primary care trust (PCT) and by strategic health authority (SHA), for 2001 onwards and uses the boundary structures as at 31 March 2006.
	This information is based on the previous contractual arrangements which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006. This report, published on 23 August 2006, has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dwfactivity
	Under the current dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, patients do not have to be registered with an NHS dentist to receive NHS care. The closest equivalent measure to 'registration' is the number of patients receiving NHS dental services ('patients seen') over a 24 month period. However, this is not directly comparable to the registration data for earlier years.
	Information on the number of patients seen in the previous 24 months as a percentage of the population, in England, is available in table D2 of annex 3 of the NHS "Dental Statistics for England: 2010/11, First quarterly report". Information is available at quarterly intervals, from 31 March 2006 to 30 September 2010 and is provided by PCT and SHA, using the boundary structures as at 1 April 2010.
	This report, published on 24 November 2010, has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats1011q1

Departmental Energy

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of  (a) electricity and  (b) gas supplied to his Department's offices at Richmond house in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The cost of electricity and gas supplied at Richmond house in each of the last 12 months is as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			  Electricity  
			 November 2009 23,499.03 
			 December 2009 24,887.47 
			 January 2010 26,190.26 
			 February 2010 22,785.91 
			 March 2010 24,495.91 
			 April 2010 16,629.56 
			 May 2010 17,583.37 
			 June 2010 17,355.24 
			 July 2010 20,021.29 
			 August 2010 17,687.64 
			 September 2010 16,429.47 
			 October 2010 18,973.94 
			   
			  Gas  
			 November 2009 4,058.07 
			 December 2009 5,226.51 
			 January 2010 6,991.56 
			 February 2010 5,033.58 
			 March 2010 4,641.14 
			 April 2010 2,420.18 
			 May 2010 1,508.53 
			 June 2010 1,241.55 
			 July 2010 1,252.19 
			 August 2010 1,248.65 
			 September 2010 1,132.29 
			 October 2010 2,146.40

Departmental Travel

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on grey fleet in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Simon Burns: The core Department, excluding its agencies and arm's length bodies, spent £699,208 in 2008-09 and £867,086 in 2009-10 on its grey fleet.

Disability: Health Services

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent consideration he has given to the recommendations of the report Raising our sights: services for adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities.

Paul Burstow: Departmental officials are currently looking very carefully at the detailed recommendations set out in this report and how these support our objectives to improve outcomes for people with learning disabilities who have complex needs and their families. The elements of good service and good practice examples included in this report sit very clearly within the programme of work which Government are leading to support independent living for people with learning disabilities and to support local service planning and commissioning to meet identified needs in their locality.
	We envisage that we should be in a position to give a formal departmental response by the end of the year.

Food: Marketing

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations his Department has received on the marketing, advertising and promotion of food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar in the non-broadcast media.

Anne Milton: On 7 October, during a House of Lords debate on the role of regulation and guidance in the food chain and of standards in improving nutritional outcomes for adults and children, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Earl Howe) received representations on the advertising to children of food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar in the non-broadcast media. There have been no other recent representations on the marketing, advertising and promotion of food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar in the non-broadcast media.

Health Services: Devolution

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings he has had with health ministers in the devolved Administrations since his appointment.

Simon Burns: The Department maintains close relations with officials in the devolved Administrations and Ministers are in regular correspondence with their counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
	The Secretary of State for Health has met with Michael McGimpsey in Belfast and Edwina Hart in Cardiff and plans to visit Scotland in the new year to meet with Nicola Sturgeon.

Heroin

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many heroin addicts were  (a) admitted to hospital for a drug-related health issue and  (b) under GP supervision in each of the last three years.

Anne Milton: The precise information requested is not collected centrally.
	Hospital admission data are not able to identify a patient as a heroin user, as it is not possible to limit diagnoses to heroin specifically as it forms part of a larger classification of opiates.
	It is also not possible to identify the number of heroin addicts under general practitioner (GP) supervision. The National Drug Treatment Monitoring System collects information on the number of people receiving substitute prescribing interventions for opioid dependence in England, however, these interventions can be delivered by a specialist GP or a community drug service and does not show under whose supervision the client is.

Infant Mortality: East Midlands

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date a national support team most recently visited  (a) Doncaster and  (b) Bassetlaw hospital concerning infant mortality; and for what reason in each case.

Anne Milton: I understand that the Infant Mortality National Support Team (NST) visited Doncaster between 19 and 23 October 2009. The visit was to the Doncaster area, not the Doncaster and Bassetlaw hospitals, although staff from Doncaster and Bassetlaw hospitals took part in the process.
	The purpose of the visit was to improve infant and child health outcomes and reduce inequalities in the area. The NST works with local teams to help them develop clear action plans based on local needs.
	The visit was part of a series to local areas with the highest number of infant deaths in disadvantaged groups.

IVF

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues on the number of cycles of in vitro fertilisation treatment available to couples through the NHS.

Anne Milton: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) produced guidelines on fertility treatment in 2004, which stated that eligible couples where the woman is aged between 23 and 39 should receive three cycles of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment.
	The Department produced guidance for national health service commissioners on 22 August 2008 drawing their attention to recommendations from the Expert Group on Commissioning NHS Infertility Provision. The Department also reminded commissioners that they should have regard to the NICE guideline about fertility, in particular its recommendation that up to three cycles of IVF be offered to eligible couples.

Lung Diseases

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he gave to the draft National Strategy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma in England prior to his Department's publication of  (a) his Department's White Paper on Liberating the NHS and  (b) Transparency in Outcomes framework; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: We will shortly publish our response to the recent consultations on the "Liberating the NHS" White Paper and on the Transparency in Outcomes Framework. The objective of the proposed reforms set out in both documents is to improve care quality, and therefore outcomes for all patients in England, including those with long-term conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.

Memory Clinics

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the average waiting time from referral to consultation at a memory clinic in  (a) England and  (b) a (i) rural and (ii) urban area.

Paul Burstow: The Government believe that early diagnosis of dementia through established or new memory services for diagnosing dementia ensure that those with dementia receive the right care and that they and their carers are given access to other avenues of post diagnostic support and help. Clinicians have an important part to play and are responsible for referring those showing early signs of dementia to these services in the early stages of the disease so that they can gain maximum benefit.
	The Department does not collect the information requested and we are unable therefore to estimate the average waiting time from referral to consultation at a memory clinic in England and rural and urban areas.

Mental Health Services: Ex-servicemen

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision is being made in the NHS for the mental health needs of former military personnel recently returned from active duty.

Simon Burns: The Government are committed to providing effective, through-life, mental health services for our service and ex-service personnel.
	The Prime Minister asked my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) to conduct an independent study into the provision of Ministry of Defence and national health service support and services to the armed forces and ex-service personnel and to make recommendations for improvement, particularly in the area of mental health.
	His report, "Fighting Fit", has been welcomed by the Government and his recommendations regarding veterans are being taken forward by the Department.
	These include an additional 30 full-time NHS staff to work with veterans, access to an online counselling service, improved training for general practitioners and better information to veterans themselves about how they can obtain help.
	Progress on these and other measures will be assessed in autumn 2011.

Muscular Dystrophy: Physiotherapy

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on improving the provision of specialist neuromuscular physiotherapy for people with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: Physiotherapy can help manage the physical deterioration associated with muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular conditions.
	Physiotherapists have a key role to play in reducing waiting times, improving access and choice, providing more personalised services closer to home, improving the quality of life of their patients. It is for local national health service organisations to decide how best to use the funds allocated to them to meet health needs.

National Spinal Cord Injury Strategy Board

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made on establishing the National Spinal Cord Injury Strategy Board.

Paul Burstow: The National Spinal Cord Injury Strategy Board (NSCISB) was established in March 2010 and has met four times. Membership includes the eight specialised spinal cord injury centres in England, the 10 specialised commissioning groups, service users and other stakeholders.
	Information about the NSCISB can be found at:
	www.secscg.nhs.uk/home/national-spinal-cord-injury-strategy-board

NHS Litigation Authority

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cases the National Health Service Litigation Authority ended by settlement after  (a) the case was set down for trial and  (b) a defence denying liability was served in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many cases the National Health Service Litigation Authority has  (a) successfully and  (b) unsuccessfully defended at full trial in each of the last three years.

Simon Burns: The Department has not made an estimate because the information is not available centrally and can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

NHS: Negligence

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to amend the present system of claims for lower-value clinical negligence cases.

Simon Burns: Following the publication of Lord Young of Graffham's report, 'Common Sense Common Safety' (Cabinet Office, October 2010), the Department is exploring with the Ministry of Justice how the Road Traffic Accident Scheme can be extended to cover low value clinical negligence claims.

NHS: Pay

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid to officials in each  (a) primary care trust and  (b) strategic health authority in bonuses in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: The Department holds some information on performance related pay for very senior managers (chief executives, executive directors and other senior managers with board level responsibility) that are employed by strategic health authorities (SHAs) on the pay framework for very senior managers, which was introduced in 2006. A copy of the framework has been placed in the Library.
	The Department does not hold information on performance related pay for very senior managers employed in primary care trusts (PCTs), other groups of national health service staff not covered by the pay framework, or NHS staff employed on local arrangements which were in place before the introduction of the pay framework.
	The performance related pay scheme which applied to SHA very senior managers in the period from 2007-08 (to recognise performance in 2006-07) to 2010-11 (to recognise performance in 2009-10) was in the form of non-consolidated, non-pensionable one off payments. As explained in the pay framework, payments are authorised subject to the approval of the 'grandparent' organisation. For very senior managers in SHAs this is the Department of Health.
	The value of the performance related pay pot is subject to affordability and an absolute ceiling that the total cost of performance related pay must not exceed 5% of the reckonable pay bill for all very senior managers within the relevant bonus pool. For the 2006-07 performance year, the Department operated a national performance related pay pool, whereby the combined total of performance related pay for all very senior managers in SHAs was not allowed to be in excess of the 5% ceiling of total SHA very senior manager pay bill. In subsequent years, the pool was at an individual organisational level, rather than national.
	Where an organisation fails to meet its financial control target, all of its very senior managers will be treated as 'Category D-not satisfactory' performers and will not receive an annual uplift or performance related pay.
	The table shows the total amount of performance related pay paid to the very senior managers employed on the pay framework in each SHA, and the value of the performance related pay as a percentage of each SHA's total very senior manager pay bill. We understand that some very senior managers may have chosen not to receive performance related pay.
	The table also shows the value of the total amount of performance related pay paid to all SHA very senior managers in each year, and the value of the total performance related pay as a percentage of the total SHA very senior manager pay bill.
	
		
			  SHA  2006-07 (in recognition of performance in 2005-06)  2007-08 (in recognition of performance in 2006-07)  2008-09 (in recognition of performance in 2007-08)  2009-10 (in recognition of performance in 2008-09)  2010-11 (in recognition of performance in 2009-10) 
			  NHS East of England  
			 £ n/a 0 36,839 38,339 34,198 
			 % n/a 0 4.13 4.99 3.23 
			   
			  NHS East Midland  
			 £ n/a 37,125 37,781 33,630 11,455 
			 % n/a 3.98 4 3.56 1.04 
			   
			  NHS London  
			 £ n/a 1,894 17,854 61,160 29,106 
			 % n/a 1.5 1.17 3.07 1.73 
			   
			  NHS North East  
			 £ n/a 30,721 14,980 22,286 18,296 
			 % n/a 7 4.72 5 4.4 
			   
			  NHS North West  
			 £ n/a 36,931 32,218 21,696 28,828 
			 % n/a 4.74 3.02 2.22 2.43 
			   
			  NHS South Central  
			 £ n/a 17,118 22,048 14,017 0 
			 % n/a 2.14 2.66 1.91 0 
			   
			  NHS South East Coast  
			 £ n/a 23,205 25,775 16,281 0 
			 % n/a 3.13 3.89 2.09 0 
			   
			  NHS South West  
			 £ n/a 39,042 43,024 45,448 37,563 
			 % n/a 3.37 3.83 4.99 4.67 
			   
			  NHS Yorkshire and Humber  
			 £ n/a 19,621 41,170 7,544 7,622 
			 % n/a 2.26 4.63 0.83 0.84 
			   
			  NHS West Midlands  
			 £ n/a 39,721 48,303 29,877 12,868 
			 % n/a 3.97 4.85 2.52 1.25 
			   
			 Total value (£) n/a 7,527,776 9,247,232 9,647,899 9,571,074 
			   
			 Total value (%) n/a 3.26 3.46 3.01 1.88

NHS: Private Sector

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of expansion in NHS activities that will be contracted to the private sector by 2015.

Simon Burns: We have not made any estimate on the proportion of expansion in national health service activities that will be contracted to the private sector by 2015.

Nutrition

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many open meetings he has held to discuss nutrition policy since his Department assumed responsibility for the nutrition functions of the Food Standards Agency.

Anne Milton: Since the Department assumed responsibility for the nutrition functions of the Food Standards Agency, nutrition policy has been discussed with stakeholders in relation to the Government's Responsibility Deal. Discussions have taken place within the Responsibility Deal's Food network and three meetings have been held to date.

Nutrition

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the extent of any  (a) duplication of functions,  (b) policy overlap and  (c) additional regulation in respect of nutrition policy since his Department assumed responsibility for the nutrition functions of the Food Standards Agency.

Anne Milton: The transfer of nutrition policy in the Department has delivered the key benefit of bringing together public health issues for England into one Department, as an early step towards the implementation of a new public health system in England. No assessment has been made regarding duplication of functions, policy overlap and additional regulation in respect of nutrition policy since the Department assumed responsibility for the nutrition functions of the Food Standards Agency.

Organs: Donors

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to the merits of an opt-out organ donation system; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The Independent Organ Donation Taskforce recommended against presumed consent in 2008, concluding that although such a system might have the potential to deliver benefits it would also present significant difficulties, which might not bring about the desired increase in donation rates. Instead, the Taskforce recommended that efforts should concentrate on implementing the recommendations in their first report which they believe should lead to an increase of at least 50% in donation rates by 2013. Currently donation rates are around 20% higher than the baseline year of 2007-08 and around 1 million more people have signed up to the organ donation register.
	The Welsh Assembly Government have proposed in their legislative programme, a Legislative Competence Order (LCO) to introduce an opt out system of organ donation in Wales. Officials from the Wales Office and the Welsh Assembly Government are working closely with the Department as these proposals are considered. Government ministers will comment as the process develops.

Pain: Health Services

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects on patients of the reductions in NHS pain management sessions.

Paul Burstow: National health service commissioners are responsible for achieving the best possible outcomes for their patients within the resources available. We recognise that specialist pain management clinics can be a very successful model for helping people with chronic pain, but it is for local commissioners working together with clinicians and patients to determine the precise arrangements best suited to meet local needs.
	We have made no such assessment.

Skin Cancer

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of and mortality rates from malignant melanoma.

Paul Burstow: Malignant melanoma is caused by long-term exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) light in sunlight. To reduce incidence and mortality rates of the disease, we are supporting SunSmart, the national skin cancer prevention campaign run by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) on behalf of the UK health departments. SunSmart raises awareness among the public and health care professions about the causes of skin cancer, how to prevent it, and the importance of early detection, presentation and treatment. In 2010-11, the Department is funding a further year of the CRUK SunSmart campaign for England on skin cancer prevention.
	We are also introducing legislation to protect young people from the UV light that sunbeds provide. The Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 comes into force on 8 April 2011, and will serve to prevent people under the age of 18 from using sunbeds on commercial premises, by making it an offence for sunbed operators to allow people under the age of 18 to access sunbeds on their premises.

Skin: Diseases

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans his Department has to draw up a National Quality Standard on inflammatory skin diseases;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to draw up a National Quality Standard on  (a) psoriasis and  (b) eczema.

Simon Burns: The case for developing a Quality Standard on inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis and eczema, will be considered as part of work to commission a comprehensive library of such Standards from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, in line with plans set out in the White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS".

Skipton Fund

Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many widows of haemophiliacs have received the first stage payment from the Skipton Fund to date.

Anne Milton: The Skipton Fund reports that approximately 30 first stage payments have been made to the estates of applicants with haemophilia who would have been eligible for this payment had they not died (after 29 August 2003). Figures are not available on whether the main beneficiary of the estate was the widow.

Skipton Fund

Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many widows of haemophiliacs are in receipt of regular payments from the public purse as a result of their husbands' death attributable to contaminated blood products provided by the NHS.

Anne Milton: The Macfarlane Trust reports that it makes regular payments to between 50 and 60 widows of haemophiliacs whose husbands' death was attributable to contaminated blood products provided by the national health service.

Slaughterhouses

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many slaughterhouses were closed in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and for what reason in each case.

Anne Milton: In 2000 there were 509 approved slaughterhouses in Great Britain submitting throughput information to the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS). In the following 10 years, the number of approved slaughterhouses submitting throughput information fell in accordance with the following table.
	
		
			  Year( 1)  Number in operation  Reduction from previous year 
			 2001 493 16 
			 2002 469 24 
			 2003 464 5 
			 2004 450 14 
			 2005 429 21 
			 2006 409 20 
			 2007 391 18 
			 2008 377 20 
			 2009 369 8 
			 2010(2) 357 12 
			 (1) From January to December in each year. (2) Figure as at 7 December 2010. 
		
	
	On 1 April 2010 the MHS merged with the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
	While reasons for closure of an approved slaughterhouse may be known at a local level this information is not available from the FSA central database.

Slaughterhouses

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many slaughterhouses are registered in each county; and how many were so registered in  (a) 1980,  (b) 1983,  (c) 1987,  (d) 1992,  (e) 1997,  (f) 2001,  (g) 2005 and  (h) 2008.

Anne Milton: The Meat Hygiene Service was established on 1 April 1995 therefore data is only available from that year.
	The following tables set out the number of approved slaughterhouses in Great Britain (GB), broken down by country and county, for the years 1997, 2001, 2005, 2008 and 2010.
	
		
			  England 
			  County  1997  2001  2005  2008  2010( 1) 
			 Avon 4 4 2 3 3 
			 Bedfordshire 4 3 3 3 3 
			 Berkshire 2 3 2 1 1 
			 Buckinghamshire 2 2 1 1 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 4 3 3 3 2 
			 Cheshire 17 16 13 12 12 
			 Cleveland 8 6 4 3 3 
			 Cornwall 13 13 13 10 10 
			 County Durham 6 3 3 3 4 
			 Cumbria 11 10 9 10 9 
			 Derbyshire 23 19 13 11 10 
			 Devon 19 18 18 16 15 
			 Dorset 7 5 5 4 4 
			 East Sussex 5 3 2 1 1 
			 East Yorkshire 4 2 2 2 2 
			 Essex 15 16 12 11 10 
			 Gloucestershire 5 5 6 5 5 
			 Greater London 4 2 2 2 2 
			 Greater Manchester 15 11 10 8 7 
			 Hampshire 6 4 1 2 2 
			 Herefordshire 8 4 4 3 2 
			 Hertfordshire 3 3 3 3 3 
			 Humberside 7 4 4 4 4 
			 Kent 7 8 7 7 6 
			 Lancashire 24 20 15 14 13 
			 Leicestershire 16 13 13 9 8 
			 Lincolnshire 24 19 18 13 14 
			 Merseyside 4 3 3 3 3 
			 Norfolk 24 21 18 14 13 
			 North Lincolnshire 1 1 1 1 1 
			 North Somerset 4 3 3 3 3 
			 North Yorkshire 27 18 17 13 12 
			 Northamptonshire 8 5 3 2 2 
			 Northumberland 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 7 7 5 2 2 
			 Oxfordshire 5 1 1 1 1 
			 Shropshire 8 6 6 5 6 
			 Somerset 15 14 12 10 9 
			 South Yorkshire 8 7 6 7 7 
			 Staffordshire 28 22 20 18 18 
			 Suffolk 16 16 12 13 11 
			 Surrey 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Tyne and Wear 5 4 5 3 2 
			 Warwickshire 5 5 4 3 3 
			 West Midlands 22 21 16 17 16 
			 West Sussex 3 1 2 1 1 
			 West Yorkshire 27 18 17 15 16 
			 Wiltshire 6 4 4 4 3 
			 Worcestershire 2 2 2 2 1 
			 England total 491 401 347 303 287 
		
	
	
		
			  Scotland 
			  County  1997  2001  2005  2008  2010( 1) 
			 Aberdeenshire 4 4 4 3 3 
			 Angus 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Annandale and Eskdale 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Argyll and Bute 3 2 1 2 2 
			 Ayrshire 4 5 5 5 4 
			 Banff and Buchan 2 2 2 1 1 
			 Berwickshire 1 1 0 1 0 
			 Caithness 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Clackmannanshire 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Dumfries and Galloway 2 1 1 1 1 
			 Ettrick and Lauderdale 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Fife 1 1 1 1 2 
			 Inverness-shire 0 0 1 1 1 
			 Isle of Arran 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Isle of Mull 0 1 1 1 1 
			 Isle-of-Lewis 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Lanarkshire 6 5 4 5 5 
			 Lothian 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Midlothian 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Morayshire 2 2 2 1 1 
			 Orkney 2 2 2 1 1 
			 Outer Hebrides 0 0 1 1 1 
			 Perth and Kinross 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Perthshire 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Renfrewshire 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Ross-shire 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Roxburghshire 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Scottish Borders 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Shetland 2 3 3 2 2 
			 Stewartry 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Stirling 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Strathclyde 1 1 1 0 0 
			 Tayside 1 1 0 0 0 
			 West Lothian 3 3 3 1 1 
			 Western Isles 2 1 1 1 1 
			 Scotland total 54 53 47 44 41 
		
	
	
		
			  Wales 
			  County  1997  2001  2005  2008  2010( 1) 
			 Anglesey 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Carmarthenshire 1 2 3 2 2 
			 Ceredigion 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Clwyd 7 6 6 6 6 
			 Denbighshire 2 2 1 1 1 
			 Dyfed 6 7 5 3 2 
			 Gwent 3 2 2 1 0 
			 Gwynedd 8 7 6 5 5 
			 Mid Glamorgan 2 4 4 3 3 
			 Monmouthshire 2 3 2 2 2 
			 Pembrokeshire 0 0 1 1 1 
			 Powys 4 4 3 3 4 
			 Shropshire 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Swansea 0 0 0 1 1 
			 West Glamorgan 2 1 1 1 1 
			 Wales total 39 39 35 30 29 
		
	
	
		
			  Year( 2)  GB totals 
			 1997 584 
			 2001 493 
			 2005 429 
			 2008 377 
			 2010(1) 357 
			 (1) Figures as at 9 December 2010. (2) From January to December in each year.

Spinal Injuries

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the capability of the NHS to treat people with spinal cord injuries.

Paul Burstow: In 2005, the Department published the National Service Framework for Long-Term Conditions, a 10-year plan to raise the standard of treatment, care and support for people with long-term neurological conditions, including those living with spinal cord injury, across local health and social care services. It is the responsibility of local health bodies to ensure they commission local, and specialised, spinal injury services to meet the need of those living with spinal injuries.
	We have made no assessment of the capability of the national health service to treat people with spinal cord injuries.

Spinal Injuries: Bassetlaw

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what NHS medical facilities there are for the treatment of spinal cord injuries for residents of Bassetlaw.

Paul Burstow: This information is not held centrally. This information may be available directly from Bassetlaw Primary Care Trust.

Strokes: East Midlands

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions he has received representations from non-executive directors of  (a) Bassetlaw primary care trust,  (b) Doncaster primary care trust and  (c) Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on stroke treatment in the last 12 months.

Simon Burns: The Department has received no representations on stroke treatment from non-executive directors of these national health service organisations in the last 12 months.

Surgery

Mary Macleod: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost to the NHS of  (a) an elective and  (b) a non-elective surgical episode (i) in England and (ii) in each primary care trust was in the latest year for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: Average unit cost data for a wide range of procedures is submitted to the Department by providers of national health service services (acute trusts and primary care trust (PCT) provider arms) through the annual reference cost collection. 2008-09 is the most recent year for which reference cost data have been published.
	It is not possible to separately identify average unit cost data for "surgical episodes".
	2008-09 average unit cost data for elective and non-elective in-patient procedures reported by acute trusts and PCT provider arms are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Unit cost (elective in-patient)  Unit cost (non-elective in-patient) 
			 All acute trusts and PCT provider arms 2,809 1,458 
			  Source: Figures calculated from schedule 4 (NHS trusts and PCTs combined) of the national schedules of reference costs for the financial year 2008-09 published at: www.dh.gov.uk/nhscosting 
		
	
	2008-09 average unit cost data for elective and non-elective in-patient procedures reported by individual PCT provider arms are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Organisation name  Unit cost (elective in-patient)  Unit cost (non-elective in-patient) 
			 Berkshire West PCT 2,102 4,297 
			 Buckinghamshire PCT 7,207 6,901 
			 Cambridgeshire PCT 1,318 908 
			 Camden PCT 3,974 - 
			 County Durham PCT 1,924 2,172 
			 Cumbria Teaching PCT 2,924 4,370 
			 Darlington PCT 3,367 2,956 
			 Derbyshire County PCT 3,904 5,293 
			 Devon PCT - 989 
			 Dorset PCT 1,332 5,353 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT - 5,289 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 12,354 4,732 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 3,007 1,702 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 4,877 - 
			 Hampshire PCT 4,362 4,500 
			 Isle of Wight NHS PCT 3,120 1,685 
			 North Somerset PCT 4,178 3,267 
			 North Staffordshire PCT 6,737 - 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 6,476 6,476 
			 Redcar and Cleveland PCT - 4,798 
			 Shropshire County PCT 779 231 
			 Somerset PCT - 3,082 
			 South Staffordshire PCT 7,003 3,073 
			 Stoke on Trent PCT 4,409 3,761 
			 Torbay Care Trust 5,901 235 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 2,560 - 
			 Wiltshire PCT - 1,764 
			 Worcestershire PCT 735 11,395 
			  Note: The above table lists just those PCT provider arms for which activity and cost data were reported. Source: Figures calculated from schedule 4 (NHS Trusts and PCTs combined) of the national schedules of reference costs for the financial year 2008-09 published at: www.dh.gov.uk/nhscosting

Surgery

Mary Macleod: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much funding  (a) the Medical Research Council and  (b) the National Institute for Health Research has provided for surgical research in each year since 2000;
	(2)  how many surgical trials have been funded by  (a) the Medical Research Council and  (b) the National Institute for Health Research in each year since 2000.

Simon Burns: Available Medical Research Council (MRC) spend figures on surgical research are as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2004-05 3.6 
			 2005-06 4.2 
			 2006-07 6.7 
			 2007-08 8.6 
			 2008-09 10.9 
			 2009-10 12.7 
		
	
	It should be noted that these figures comprise research on the development and evaluation of surgical treatments/therapeutic interventions as defined by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration only, and do not include more underpinning research that is relevant to surgery. Earlier comparable figures are not available.
	The MRC is funding three surgical trials through the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation programme. In addition, the MRC funds the Eagle trial-effectiveness of lens extraction with intraocular lens implantation for the treatment of primary angle closure glaucoma. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) was established in April 2006. The total value of awards made by NIHR for research relating to surgery, and the number of NIHR-funded surgical trials that commenced in each calendar year are shown in the table.
	
		
			   Total awarded  (£ million)  Number of trials commenced( 1) 
			 2007 11.8 9 
			 2008 14.6 13 
			 2009 9.8 7 
			 (1) These figures include projects/programmes with a trial component 
		
	
	In addition, the NIHR clinical research network provides national health service research infrastructure support to a wide range of trials and other clinical studies in surgery.

Teenage Pregnancy: Brighton

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pregnancies among those aged under 19 years were recorded in Brighton and Hove in  (a) 2007,  (b) 2008 and  (c) 2009.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated December 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many pregnancies among those aged under 19 years were recorded in Brighton and Hove in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009.
	The Office for National Statistics produces statistics on conceptions which are estimates based on the number of live births, stillbirths or legal abortions. They do not include miscarriages and illegal abortions. The table below provides the number of conceptions to women aged under 19 in Brighton and Hove Unitary Authority in 2007 and 2008, the most recent years for which figures are available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Conceptions to women aged under 19( 1)  in Brighton and Hove Unitary Authority( 2)  in 2007 and 2008 
			   2007  2008 
			 Brighton and Hove 328 270 
			 (1) Under 19 years at estimated date of conception. (2) Based on boundaries as of August 2010. 
		
	
	Further information about conception statistics is published on the Office for National Statistics website:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/product.asp?vlnk=15055

Tobacco: Retail Trade

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the implementation of regulations requiring  (a) tobacco to be removed from display in shops and  (b) the ending of sale of tobacco from vending machines.

Anne Milton: The Government are looking at options around the display of tobacco in shops, recognising the need to take action both to reduce tobacco consumption and to reduce burdens on businesses. No decisions have yet been made.
	Legislation prohibiting the sale of tobacco from vending machines will come into effect on 1 October 2011. On 1 December, the court handed down judgment dismissing the judicial review claims by Sinclair Collis (wholly owned by Imperial Tobacco) against this legislation.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to reply to question 26376, on funding of disabled children's services, tabled on 22 November 2010 for ordinary written answer.

Anne Milton: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave her on 1 December 2010,  Official Report, column 894W.